Extreme r-process Enhanced Stars at High Metallicity in Fornax* * Based on data obtained from the ESO reduced archive. Program IDs: 080.B-0784(A), 171.B-0588(A), 71.B-0641(A).

Abstract

We present and discuss three extremely r-process enhanced stars located in the massive dwarf spheroidal galaxy Fornax. These stars are very unique with an extreme Eu enrichment (1.25 ≤ [Eu/Fe]≤1.45) at high metallicities (−1.3 ≤ [Fe/H]≤−0.8). They have the largest Eu abundances ever observed in a dwarf galaxy opening new opportunities to further understand the origin of heavy elements formed by the r-process. We derive stellar abundances of Co, Zr, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Er, and Lu using one-dimensional, local thermodynamic equilibrium codes and model atmospheres in conjunction with state-of-the art yield predictions. We derive Zr in the largest sample of stars (105) known to date in a dwarf galaxy. Accurate stellar abundances combined with a careful assessment of the yield predictions have revealed three metal-rich stars in Fornax showing a pure r-process pattern. We define a new class of stars, namely, Eu-stars, as r-II stars (i.e., [Eu/Fe] > 1) at high metallicities (i.e., [Fe/H] ≳ −1.5). The stellar abundance pattern contains Lu, observed for the first time in a dwarf galaxy, and reveals that a late burst of star formation has facilitated extreme r-process enhancement late in the galaxy’s history (<4 Gyr ago). Due to the large uncertainties associated with the nuclear physics input in the yield predictions, we cannot yet determine the r-process site leading to the three Eu-stars in Fornax. Our results demonstrate that extremely r-rich stars are not only associated with ultra-faint low-mass dwarf galaxies, but can be born also in massive dwarf galaxies.