There have been a number of important recent developments in theoretical and observational studies of nucleosynthesis, especially regarding nucleosynthetic sources at low metallicities. Those selected for discussion here include the origin of Li6, the primary production of N, the s-process, and the supernova sources for three groups of metals: (1) C to Zn with mass numbers A<70, (2) Sr to Ag with A~90-110, and (3) r-process nuclei with A~130 and above.
We calculate evolution and nucleosynthesis in massive Pop III stars with M = 13 ~ 270Msun, and compare the results with abundances of very metal-poor halo stars. The observed abundances can be explained by the energetic core-collapse supernovae with M < ~ 130Msun (``hypernovae'') but not by pair-instability supernovae (PISNe) with M ~ 140-270 Msun. This result constrain the IMF for the Pop III and very metal-poor Pop II stars.
We present a new analysis of the abundances observed in extremely metal poor stars based on both a new generation of theoretical presupernova models and explosions of zero metallicity massive stars and a new abundance analysis of an homogeneous sample of stars having [Fe/H]<-2.5 (Cayrel et al. 2004).
There have been attempts to fit the abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor stars with supernova nucleosynthesis models for the lighter elements than Zn. On the other hand, observations have revealed that the presence of EMP stars with peculiarly high ratio of "weak r-process elements" Sr, Y and Zr. Although several possible processes were suggested for the origin of these elements, the complete solution for reproducing those ratios is not found yet. In order to reproduce the abundance patterns of such stars, we investigate a model with neutron rich matter ejection from the inner region of …
We present the results of binary population simulations of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars. We show that nitrogen and fluorine are useful tracers of the origin of CEMP stars, and conclude that the observed paucity of very nitrogen-rich stars puts strong constraints on possible modifications of the initial mass function at low metallicity. The large number fraction of CEMP stars may instead require much more efficient dredge-up from low-metallicity asymptotic giant branch stars.
Stars more massive than $\sim$ 20 - 25 \ms form a black hole at the end of their evolution. Stars with non-rotating black holes are likely to collapse "quietly" ejecting a small amount of heavy elements (Faint supernovae). In contrast, stars with rotating black holes are likely to give rise to very energetic supernovae (Hypernovae). We present distinct nucleosynthesis features of these two types of "black-hole-forming" supernovae. Nucleosynthesis in Hypernovae is characterized by larger abundance ratios (Zn,Co,V,Ti)/Fe and smaller (Mn,Cr)/Fe than normal supernovae, which can explain the observ…
We review the nucleosynthesis yields of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) for various stellar masses, explosion energies, and metallicities. Comparison with the abundance patterns of metal-poor stars provides excellent opportunities to test the explosion models and their nucleosynthesis. We show that the abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars, e.g., the excess of C, Co, Zn relative to Fe, are in better agreement with the yields of hyper-energetic explosions (Hypernovae, HNe) rather than normal supernovae. We note that the variation of the abundance patterns of EMP stars are relate…
We report the detection of the Pb I 4057.8A line in the very metal-poor ([Fe/H]=-2.7), carbon-rich star, LP625-44. We determine the abundance of Pb ([Pb/Fe] = 2.65) and 15 other neutron-capture elements. The abundance pattern between Ba and Pb agrees well with a scaled solar system s-process component, while the lighter elements (Sr-Zr) are less abundant than Ba. The enhancement of s-process elements is interpreted as a result of mass transfer in a binary system from a previous AGB companion, an interpretation strongly supported by radial velocity variations of this system. The detection of Pb…
We investigate hydrodynamical and nucleosynthetic properties of the jet-induced explosion of a population III $40M_\odot$ star and compare the abundance patterns of the yields with those of the metal-poor stars. We conclude that (1) the ejection of Fe-peak products and the fallback of unprocessed materials can account for the abundance patterns of the extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars and that (2) the jet-induced explosion with different energy deposition rates can explain the diversity of the abundance patterns of the metal-poor stars. Furthermore, the abundance distribution after the explosio…
The standard model of primordial nucleosynthesis by the Big Bang as selected by the WMAP-based estimate of the baryon density ($Ω_bh^2$) predicts an abundance of $^7$Li that is a factor of three greater than the generally reported abundance for stars on the Spite plateau, and an abundance of $^6$Li that is about a thousand times less than is found for some stars on the plateau. This review discusses and examines these two discrepancies. They can likely be resolved without major surgery on the standard model of the Big Bang. In particular, stars on the Spite plateau may have depleted their surf…
We explore the effects on nucleosynthesis in Type II supernovae of various parameters (mass cut, neutron excess, explosion energy, progenitor mass) in order to explain the observed trends of the iron-peak element abundance ratios ([Cr/Fe], [Mn/Fe], [Co/Fe] and [Ni/Fe]) in halo stars as a function of metallicity for the range $ -4 \le$ [Fe/H] $\le -2.5$. [Cr/Fe] and [Mn/Fe] decrease with decreasing [Fe/H], while [Co/Fe] behaves the opposite way and increases. We show that such a behavior can be explained by a variation of mass cuts in Type II supernovae as a function of progenitor mass, which p…
We perform hydrodynamical and nucleosynthesis calculations of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) and hypernovae (HNe) of Population (Pop) III stars. We provide new yields for the main-sequence mass of $M_{\rm MS}=13-50$ $M_{\odot}$ and the explosion energy of $E=1-40\times10^{51}$ ergs to apply for chemical evolution studies. Our HN yields based on the mixing-fallback model of explosions reproduce the observed abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars ($-4< {\rm [Fe/H]}< -3$), while those of very metal-poor (VMP) stars ($-3<{\rm [Fe/H]} < -2$) are reproduced by the normal SN yields in…
We calculate nucleosynthesis in core-collapse explosions of massive Pop III stars, and compare the results with abundances of metal-poor halo stars to constrain the parameters of Pop III supernovae. We focus on iron-peak elements and, in particular, we try to reproduce the large [Zn/Fe] observed in extremely metal-poor stars. The interesting trends of the observed ratios [Zn, Co, Mn, Cr, V/Fe] can be related to the variation of the relative mass of the complete and incomplete Si-burning regions in supernova ejecta. We find that [Zn/Fe] is larger for deeper mass-cuts, smaller neutron excess, an…
To constrain the conditions for very early nucleosynthesis in the Universe we compare the chemical enrichment pattern of an extremely metal-poor damped Lyman alpha (DLA) absorber with predictions from recent explosive nucleosynthesis model calculations. For this, we have analyzed chemical abundances in the DLA system at z_abs=2.6183 toward the quasar Q0913+072 (z_em=2.785) using public UVES/VLT high spectral resolution data. The total neutral hydrogen column density in this absorber is logN(HI)=20.36. Accurate column densities are derived for CII, NI, OI, AlII, SiII, and FeII. Upper limits are…
We review some important observed properties of massive stars. Then we discuss how mass loss and rotation affect their evolution and help in giving better fits to observational constraints. Consequences for nucleosynthesis at different metallicities are discussed. Mass loss appear to be the key feature at high metallicity, while rotation is likely dominant at low and very low metallicities. We discuss various indications supporting the view that very metal poor stars had their evolution strongly affected by rotational mixing. Many features, like the origin of primary nitrogen at low metallicit…
Contrary to previous expectations, recent evolutionary models of zero-metallicity stars show that the development of mixing episodes at the beginning of the AGB phase allows low- and intermediate-mass stars to experience thermal pulses. If these stars, like their metal-rich counterparts, also experience partial mixing of protons from the H-rich envelope into the C-rich layers at the time of the third dredge-up, an extensive neutron capture nucleosynthesis leads to the production of s-process nuclei up to Pb and Bi. Nucleosynthesis calculations based on stellar AGB models are performed assuming…
We present new Hubble Space Telescope (HST) abundance observations of the neutron-capture elements Ge, Zr, Os and Pt in a group of 11 Galactic halo stars, including the well studied r-process rich CS 22892-052 and the r-process poor, bright giant HD 122563. Abundance comparisons indicate that the third r-process peak elements Pt and Os seem to be correlated with Eu (obtained with ground-based observations) in these metal-poor halo stars, suggesting a common origin or site for these three n-capture elements.
Hans Bethe contributed in many ways to our understanding of the supernovae that happen in massive stars, but, to this day, a first principles model of how the explosion is energized is lacking. Nevertheless, a quantitative theory of nucleosynthesis is possible. We present a survey of the nucleosynthesis that occurs in 32 stars of solar metallicity in the mass range 12 to 120 solar masses. The most recent set of solar abundances, opacities, mass loss rates, and current estimates of nuclear reaction rates are employed. Restrictions on the mass cut and explosion energy of the supernovae based upo…
We calculate presupernova evolutions and supernova explosions of massive stars (M=13-25 Mo) for various metallicities. We find the following characteristic abundance patterns of nucleosynthesis in the metal-free (Pop III) stars. (1) The alpha-nuclei (from C to Zn) are more efficiently produced than other isotopes, and the abundance pattern of alpha-nuclei can be similar to the solar abundance. In particular, near solar ratios of alpha elements/Fe might be a signature of Pop III which could produce a large amount of Fe. (2) The abundance ratios of odd Z to even Z elements such as Na/Mg and Al/M…
The heavy elements formed by neutron capture processes have an interesting history from which we can extract useful clues to and constraints upon both the characteristics of the processes themselves and the star formation and nucleosynthesis history of Galactic matter. Of particular interest in this regard are the heavy element compositions of extremely metal-deficient stars. At metallicities [Fe/H] <= -2.5, the elements in the mass region past barium (A >= 130-140 have been found (in non carbon-rich stars) to be pure r-process products. The identification of an environment provided by massive…
We present the evolutionary properties of a set of massive stellar models (namely 13, 15, 20 and 25 $\rm M_\odot$) from the main sequence phase up to the onset of the iron core collapse. All these models have initial solar chemical composition, i.e. Y=0.285 and Z=0.02. A 179 isotope network, extending from neutron up to $\rm ^{68}Zn$ and fully coupled to the evolutionary code has been adopted from the Carbon burning onward. Our results are compared, whenever possible, to similar computations available in literature.
We study the impact of possible high density baryonic bubbles on the early formed QSO, IGM, and metal poor stars. Such bubbles could be created, under certain conditions, in Affleck-Dine model of baryogenesis and may occupy a relatively small fraction of space, while the dominant part of the cosmological volume has the normal observed baryon-to-photon ratio $η= 6\cdot 10^{-10}$. The value of $η$ in the bubbles, could be much larger than the usually accepted one (it might be even close to unity) without contradicting the existing data on light element abundances and the observed angular spectru…
Hydrodynamics and explosive nucleosynthesis in bipolar supernova explosions are examined to account for some peculiar properties of hypernovae as well as peculiar abundance patterns of metal-poor stars. The explosion is supposed to be driven by bipolar jets which are powered by accretion onto a central remnant. We explore the features of the explosions with varying progenitors' masses and jet properties. The outcomes are different from conventional spherical models. (1) In the bipolar models, Fe-rich materials are ejected at high velocities along the jet axis, while O-rich materials occupy the…
We have made a parametric study of s-process nucleosynthesis in the metal poor ([Fe/H]=-2.7) stars LP625-44 and LP706-7. We find that a high neutron exposure and a small overlap factor are necessary to fit the abundance pattern observed in these two metal-deficient stars, particularly the abundance ratios, Pb/Ba $\approx 1$ and Ba/Sr $\approx 10$. We have also constructed stellar models to better understand how such s-process conditions could arise. We have calculated a 2$M_\odot$ model star with metallicity [Fe/H]=-2.7 from the ZAMS up to AGB phase. We find that for such low-metallicity stars…
HIPPARCOS trigonometrical parallaxes make it possible to compare the location of Tc-rich and Tc-poor S stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram: Tc-rich S stars are found to be cooler and intrinsically brighter than Tc-poor S stars. The comparison with the Geneva evolutionary tracks reveals that the line marking the onset of thermal pulses on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) matches well the observed limit between Tc-poor and Tc-rich S stars. Tc-rich S stars are, as expected, identified with thermally-pulsing AGB stars of low and intermediate masses, whereas Tc-poor S stars comprise most…
Recent observations of r-process-enriched metal-poor star abundances reveal a non-uniform abundance pattern for elements $Z\leq47$. Based on non-correlation trends between elemental abundances as a function of Eu-richness in a large sample of metal-poor stars, it is shown that the mixing of a consistent and robust light element primary process (LEPP) and the r-process pattern found in r-II metal-poor stars explains such apparent non-uniformity. Furthermore, we derive the abundance pattern of the LEPP from observation and show that it is consistent with a missing component in the solar abundanc…
We calculate nucleosynthesis in Population (Pop) III supernovae (SNe) and compare the yields with various abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars. We assume that the observed EMP stars are the second generation stars, which have the metal-abundance patterns of Pop III SNe. Previous theoretical yields of Pop III SNe cannot explain the trends in the abundance ratios among iron-peak elements (Mn, Co, Ni, Zn)/Fe as well as the large C/Fe ratio observed in certain EMP stars with [Fe/H] <~ -2.5. In the present paper, we show that if we introduce higher explosion energies and mixing-fa…
We present the \nuk{Al}{26} and \nuk{Fe}{60} yields produced by a generation of solar metallicity stars ranging in mass between 11 and 120\msun. We discuss the production sites of these $γ$ ray emitters and quantify the relative contributions of the various components. More specifically we provide the separate contribution of the wind, the C convective shell and the explosive Ne/C burning to the total \nuk{Al}{26} yield per each stellar model in our grid. We provide the contributions of the He convective shell, the C convective shell and the explosive Ne/C burning to the \nuk{Fe}{60} yield as …
We have investigated chemical evolution in the young universe by analysing the detailed chemical enrichment pattern of a metal-rich galaxy at high redshift. The recent detection of over 20 elements in the gas-phase of a damped Lyman-alpha absorber (DLA) at z = 2.626 represents an exciting new avenue for exploring early nucleosynthesis. Given a strict upper age of ~2.5 Gyr and a gas-phase metallicity about one third solar, we have shown the DLA abundance pattern to be consistent with the predictions of a chemical evolution model in which the interstellar enrichment is dominated by massive stars…
We review the Galactic chemical evolution of Li6 and compare these results with recent observational determinations of the lithium isotopic ratio. In particular, we concentrate on so-called standard Galactic cosmic-ray nucleosynthesis in which Li, Be, and B are produced (predominantly) by the inelastic scattering of accelerated protons and α's off of CNO nuclei in the ambient interstellar medium. If O/Fe is constant at low metallicities, then the Li6 vs Fe/H evolution-as well as Be and B vs Fe/H-has difficulty in matching the observations. However, recent determinations of Population II oxygen…
We report the abundances of neutron-capture elements in eight carbon-rich, metal-poor (-2.7=<[Fe/H]=<-1.9) stars observed with the Subaru Telescope High Dispersion Spectrograph. The derived abundance patterns indicate that the neutron-capture elements in these objects primarily originated from s-process nucleosynthesis, although the [Ba/Eu] abundance ratios in some objects are lower than that of the solar-system s-process component. The present analysis has yielded the Pb abundances for seven objects, as well as an upper limit for one object, from use of the Pb I 4057A and 3683A lines. The val…
We study the r-process nucleosynthesis in neutrino-driven winds of gravitational core collapse SNeII. Appropriate physical conditions are found for successful r-process nucleosynthesis, which meet with several features of heavy elements discovered recently in metal-deficient halo stars. We find also several difficulties which are not explained in the present wind models. We discuss quests for new insights in nuclear physics, astrophysics, and astronomy.
We use the Cambridge stellar evolution code STARS to model the evolution of 5-7 solar mass zero-metallicity stars. With enhanced resolution at the hydrogen and helium burning shell in the AGB phases, we are able to model the entire thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) phase. The helium luminosities of the thermal pulses are significantly lower than in higher metallicity stars so there is no third dredge-up. The envelope is enriched in nitrogen by hot-bottom burning of carbon that was previously mixed in during second dredge-up. There is no s-process enrichment owing to the lack o…
We present numerical simulations to describe the nucleosynthesis and evolution of pre-Galactic clouds in a model which is motivated by cold dark matter simulations of hierarchical galaxy formation. We adopt a SN-induced star-formation mechanism and follow the chemical enrichment and energy input by Type II and Type Ia SNe. We utilize metallicity-dependent yields and include finite stellar lifetimes. We derive the metallicity distribution functions, the age-metallicity relation, and relative elemental abundances for a number of alpha- and Fe-group elements. We find that the dispersion of the me…
We consider the evolution of the light elements ($Li, Be$ and $B$) incorporating the effects of their production by both neutrino process and cosmic-ray nucleosynthesis. We test the viability of the neutrino process to resolve the long standing problem of the $^{11}$B/$^{10}$B isotopic ratio which amounts to 4 at the time of the formation of the solar system. This hypothesis may be ultimately constrained by the $B/Be$ ratio observed in halo stars. Though we are able to obtain a solar isotopic ratio $^{11}B/^{10}B \simeq 4$, the current paucity of data at low metallicity prevents us from making…
The evolution and explosion of metal-free stars with masses 10--100 solar masses are followed, and their nucleosynthetic yields, light curves, and remnant masses determined. When the supernova yields are integrated over a Salpeter initial mass function, the resulting elemental abundance pattern is qualitatively solar, but with marked deficiencies of odd-Z elements with 7 <= Z <= 13. Neglecting the contribution of the neutrino wind from the neutron stars that they make, no appreciable abundances are made for elements heavier than germanium. The computed pattern compares favorably with what has …
Standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis predicts an essentially zero primordial metallicity. I speculate on possible metal (i.e. nucleon number A\geq 12) production in scenarios of inhomogeneous Big Bang nucleosynthesis. It is conceivable, though not necessarily probable, that some primordial metallicity is synthesized if a small fraction of all cosmic baryons reside in very high-density regions. Such conditions could possibly result from the evaporation of some baryon-number carrying soliton prior to the epoch of Big Bang nucleosynthesis.
Recently, measurements of abundances in extremely metal poor (EMP) stars have brought new constraints on stellar evolution models. In an attempt to explain the origin of the abundances observed, we computed pre--supernova evolution models, explosion models and the related nucleosynthesis. In this paper, we start by presenting the pre-SN models of rotating single stars with metallicities ranging from solar metallicity down to almost metal free. We then review key processes in core-collapse and bounce, before we integrate them in a simplistic parameterization for 3D MHD models, which are well un…
Nuclear interactions of ions accelerated at the surface of flaring stars can produce fresh isotopes in stellar atmospheres. Although this nucleosynthesis is not significant for the chemical evolution of the Galaxy, it can be important for a number of measurements of "anomalously" high 6-Li and 7-Li abundances. We discuss the possible role of stellar flares to explain the recent report of high 6-Li abundances in metal-poor halo stars and the well-established correlation between Li abundance and stellar activity in young open clusters. We then study the possibility of observing directly Li produ…
We present new nucleosynthesis yields as functions of the stellar mass, metallicity, and explosion energy (corresponding to normal supernovae and Hypernovae). We apply the results to the chemical evolution of the solar neighborhood. Our new yields are based on the new developments in the observational/theoretical studies of supernovae (SNe) and extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars in the halo, which have provided excellent opportunities to test the explosion models and their nucleosynthesis. We use the light curve and spectra fitting of individual SN to estimate the mass of the progenitor, explosi…
We discuss in detail the evolutionary properties of low mass stars M< 1 M(Solar) having metallicity lower than Z=10^(-6) from the pre- main sequence up to (almost) the end of the Asymptotic Giant Branch phase. We also discuss the possibility that the large [C,N/Fe] observed on the surface of the most Iron poor star presently known, HE0107-5240, may be attributed to the autopollution induced by the penetration of the He convective shell into the H rich mantle during the He core flash of a low mass, very low metallicity star. On the basis of a quite detailed analysis, we conclude that the autopo…
Metal-poor stars provide information on the characteristics and chemical evolution of the halo population of the Galaxy, the first epoch of star formation and Galaxy formation (not just locally but with relevance to high-redshift objects), and big bang nucleosynthesis. This review looks at recent developments in this subject.
The first metal enrichment in the universe was made by supernova (SN) explosions of population (Pop) III stars. The trace remains in abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars. We investigate the properties of nucleosynthesis in Pop III SNe by means of comparing their yields with the abundance patterns of the EMP stars. We focus on (1) jet-induced SNe with various energy deposition rates [$\dot{E}_{\rm dep}=(0.3-1500)\times10^{51}{\rm ergs s^{-1}}$], and (2) SNe of stars with various main-sequence masses ($M_{\rm ms}=13-50M_\odot$) and explosion energies [$E=(1-40)\times10^{51}$erg…
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) must originate from low baryon load, ultrarelativistic outflows; however, slower, more baryon-rich outflows (BROs) should also arise in connection with GRBs as ``circum-jet winds'' and/or ``failed GRBs''. We study the possibility of nucleosynthesis within such BROs by conducting detailed reaction network calculations in the framework of the fireball model, showing that they can be interesting sites for synthesis of heavy neutron capture elements, as well as of light elements such as deuterium. These products may be observable in the companion stars of black hole binary …
Many nucleosynthesis and mixing processes of low-mass stars as they evolve from the Main Sequence to the thermal-pulse Asymptotic Giant Branch phase (TP-AGB) are well understood (although of course important physics components, e.g. rotation, magnetic fields, gravity wave mixing, remain poorly known). Nevertheless, in the last years presolar grain measurements with high resolution have presented new puzzling problems and strong constraints on nucleosynthesis processes in stars. The goal of the NuGrid collaboration is to present uniform yields for a large range of masses and metallicities, incl…
The abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars provide us with important information on nucleosynthesis in supernovae (SNe) formed in a Pop III or EMP environment, and thus on the nature of the first stars in the Universe. We review nucleosynthesis yields of various types of those SNe, focusing on core-collapse (black-hole-forming) SNe with various progenitor masses, explosion energies (including Hypernovae), and asphericity. We discuss the implications of the observed trends in the abundance ratios among iron-peak elements, and the large C/Fe ratio observed in certain EMP stars wi…
Since the pioneering observations of Spite & Spite in 1982, the constant lithium abundance of metal-poor ([Fe/H]<-1.3) halo stars near the turnoff has been attributed a cosmological origin. Closer analysis revealed that the observed abundance lies at $Δ$ Li~0.4 dex below the predictions of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. The measurements of deuterium abundances on the lines of sight toward quasars and the recent data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe independently confirmed this gap. We suggest here that part of the discrepancy is explained by the first generation of stars that efficient…
Very high-quality spectra of 24 metal-poor halo dwarfs and subgiants have been acquired with ESO's VLT/UVES for the purpose of determining Li isotopic abundances. The derived 1D, non-LTE 7Li abundances from the LiI 670.8nm line reveal a pronounced dependence on metallicity but with negligible scatter around this trend. Very good agreement is found between the abundances from the LiI 670.8nm line and the LiI 610.4nm line. The estimated primordial 7Li abundance is $7Li/H = 1.1-1.5 x 10^-10, which is a factor of three to four lower than predicted from standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis with the ba…
We use the Cambridge stellar evolution code STARS to model the evolution and nucleosynthesis of zero-metallicity intermediate-mass stars. We investigate the effect of duplicity on the nucleosynthesis output of these systems and the potential abundances of the secondaries. The surfaces of zero-metallicity stars are enriched in CNO elements after second dredge up. During binary interaction, such as Roche lobe overflow or wind accretion, metals can be released from these stars and the secondaries enriched in CNO isotopes. We investigate the formation of the two most metal poor stars known, HE 010…
The synthesis of Li6 during the epoch of Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) due to residual annihilation of dark matter particles is considered. By comparing the predicted Li6 to observations of this isotope in low-metallicity stars, generic constraints on s-wave dark matter annihilation rates into quarks, gauge bosons, and Higgs bosons are derived. It may be shown that, for example, wino dark matter in anomaly-mediated SUSY breaking scenarios with masses Mx < 250 GeV or light neutralinos with Mx < 20 GeV annihilating into light quarks are, taken face value, ruled out. These constraints may only b…
We critique the hypothesis that the first stars were very massive stars (VMS; M > 140 Msun). We review the two major lines of evidence for the existence of VMS: (1) that the relative metal abundances of extremely metal-poor Galactic halo stars show evidence of VMS enrichment, and (2) that the high electron-scattering optical depth (tau_e) to the CMB found by WMAP requires VMS for reionization in a concordance LambdaCDM cosmology. The supernova yield patterns of VMS are incompatible with the Fe-peak and r-process abundances in halo stars. Models including Type II supernovae and/or ``hypernovae'…
We present new observations of copper and zinc abundances in 90 metal-poor stars, belonging to the metallicity range -3< [Fe/H] < -0.5. The present study is based on high resolution spectroscopic measurements collected at the Haute Provence Observatoire (R= 42000, S/N > 100). The trend of Cu and Zn abundances as a function of the metallicity [Fe/H] is discussed and compared to that of other heavy elements beyond iron. We also estimate spatial velocities and galactic orbital parameters for our target stars in order to disentangle the population of disk stars from that of halo stars using kinema…
We review the information that planetary nebulae and their immediate progenitors, the post-AGB objects, can provide to probe the nucleosynthesis and mixing in low and intermediate mass stars. We emphasize new approaches based on high signal-to-noise spectroscopy of planetary nebulae and of their central stars. We mention some of the problems still to overcome. We emphasize that, as found by several authors, planetary nebulae in low metallicity environments cannot be used to probe the oxygen abundance in the interstellar medium out of which their progenitors were formed, because of abundance mo…
As part of a large survey of halo and thick disc stars, we found one halo star, HD 106038, exceptionally overabundant in beryllium. In spite of its low metallicity, [Fe/H] = -1.26, the star has log(Be/H) = -10.60, which is similar to the solar meteoritic abundance, log(Be/H) = -10.58. This abundance is more than ten times higher the abundance of stars with similar metallicity and cannot be explained by models of chemical evolution of the Galaxy that include the standard theory of cosmic-ray spallation. No other halo star exhibiting such a beryllium overabundance is known. In addition, overabun…
We demonstrate a successful strategy for identifying extremely metal poor galaxies. Our preliminary survey of 24 candidates contains 10 metal poor galaxies of which 4 have 12+log(O/H)<7.65, some of the lowest metallicity blue compact galaxies known to date. Interestingly, our sample of metal poor galaxies have systematically lower metallicity for their luminosity than comparable samples of blue compact galaxies, dIrrs, and normal star-forming galaxies. Our metal poor galaxies share very similar properties, however, with the host galaxies of nearby long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), includi…
This manuscript reviews recent progress in our understanding of the nucleosynthesis of medium and heavy elements in supernovae. Recent hydrodynamical models of core-collapse supernovae show that a large amount of proton rich matter is ejected under strong neutrino fluxes. This matter constitutes the site of the vp-process where antineutrino absorption reactions catalyze the nucleosynthesis of nuclei with A > 64. Supernovae are also associated with the r-process responsible for the synthesis of the heaviest elements in nature. Fission during the r-process can play a major role in determining th…
We report abundance estimates for neutron-capture elements, including lead (Pb), and nucleosynthesis models for their origin, in two carbon-rich, very metal-poor stars, LP625-44 and LP706-7. These stars are subgiants whose surface abundances are likely to have been strongly affected by mass transfer from companion AGB stars that have since evolved to white dwarfs. The detections of Pb, which forms the final abundance peak of the s-process, enable a comparison of the abundance patterns from Sr (Z=38) to Pb (Z=82) with predictions of AGB models. The derived chemical compositions provide strong c…
We have derived isotopic fractions of europium, samarium, and neodymium in two metal-poor giants with differing neutron-capture nucleosynthetic histories. These isotopic fractions were measured from new high resolution (R ~ 120,000), high signal-to-noise (S/N ~ 160-1000) spectra obtained with the 2dCoude spectrograph of McDonald Observatory's 2.7m Smith telescope. Synthetic spectra were generated using recent high-precision laboratory measurements of hyperfine and isotopic subcomponents of several transitions of these elements and matched quantitatively to the observed spectra. We interpret ou…
The abundance patterns of metal-poor stars provide us a wealth of chemical information about various stages of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. In particular, these stars allow us to study the formation and evolution of the elements and the involved nucleosynthesis processes. Metal-poor stars are the local equivalent of the high-redshift Universe, and thus offer crucial observational constraints on a variety of issues regarding the early Universe. This review presents an introduction to metal-poor stars and their role as "cosmic lab" for the study of neutron-capture nucleosynthesis proces…
Intermediate mass stellar evolution tracks from the main sequence to the tip of the AGB for five initial masses (2 to 6Msun) and metallicity Z=0.0001 have been computed. The detailed 1D structure and evolution models include exponential overshooting, mass loss and a detailed nucleosynthesis network with updated nuclear reaction rates. The network includes a two-particle heavy neutron sink for approximating neutron density in the He-shell flash. It is shown how the neutron-capture nucleosynthesis is important in models of very low metallicity for the formation of light neutron-heavy species, li…
We have used UVES on VLT-UT2 to take spectra of 15 red giants in the Sculptor, Fornax, Carina and Leo I dwarf spheroidal galaxies. We measure the abundances of alpha, iron peak, s and r-process elements. No dSph giants in our sample show the deep mixing abundance pattern seen in nearly all globular clusters. At a given metallicity, the dSph giants exhibit lower [el/Fe] abundance ratios for the alpha elements than stars in the Galactic halo. This can be caused by a slow star formation rate and contribution from Type Ia SN, and/or a small star formation event (low total mass) and mass dependent …
