The Old Star CS 31082-001, the Age of the Universe, and the Nature of the r-process

Details The Old Star CS 31082-001, the Age of the Universe, and the Nature of the r-process The Old Star CS 31082-001, the Age of the Universe, and the Nature of the r-process

Jul 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002hst..prop.9359c&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #9359

Computer Science

Hst Proposal Id #9359

Scientific paper

We propose to observe the newly discovered r-process-element enhanced star, CS 31082-001 {Fe/H -2.9}, in order to determine abundances of the heaviest stable elements, using absorption lines that are only reachable in the near UV. This star is the only halo star for which a uranium detection has been reported, and for which the U/Th chronometer has been used to specify an age limit. In order to improve the accuracy of the age determination from U/Th we require abundance estimates of the daughter nuclides -Pb & Bi- for which only upper limits have been obtained from ground-based observations. Such estimates will provide crucial constraints on the initial production ratio of U/Th, resulting in a more strict lower limit on the age of this star's progenitor, hence on the age of the Universe. Measurements of 3rd-peak neutron-capture elements, such as Pt, Os, Ir, and Au, all with lines in the 2400-3100 Angstrom range, will expand our knowledge of element synthesis in the early Galaxy. Our recent ESO-VLT data indicate that the neutron-capture elements in this star exhibit different enhancements as compared with the previously known `` r-process star'' CS 22892-052, an apparent anomaly that must be resolved. CS 31082-001 is the ideal HST target in its class - it is 4-times brighter than CS 22892-052, and less affected by molecular line blending. Consequently, these HST data will become the reference in all future studies of similar stars.

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