Carbon and Silicon in Normal a Stars and in Lambda Bootis Stars

Abstract

AbstractThe anticorrelation of C and Si previously inferred from high-resolution spectroscopy of sharp-lined A stars classified as normal or mild Am is also found among the metal-deficient, more rapidly rotating λ Boo stars. The entire sample of program stars covers the range [C/Si] = − 1.14 (Sirius, mild Am star) to + 1.35 (HR 7400, λ Boo-type). Iron varies parallel with silicon. With respect to surface chemistry the λ Boo stars do not form a distinct group but rather represent the lower end in a continuous sequence of ‘metal’ abundance extending over more than 1.5 dex.We argue that differential accretion of gas and dust in late stages of star formation or during the main-sequence phase is responsible for most of the abundance variations of the lighter elements up to the iron group. Enhanced or impeded accretion of dust leads to a metal-rich or metal-poor surface composition, respectively. The heavy trace elements Sr and Ba show additional anomalies indicating that other processes like gravitational and radiative separation are also involved.