Hyper Metal-Poor Stars: The First Generation in the Universe?

In summary, the authors discuss the recent discovery of two hyper metal-poor (HMP) stars, with extremely low metallicity levels, and the question of whether they are the actual first generation stars in the universe. They argue that these HMP stars are actually second generation stars formed from chemically enriched gases from the first generation supernovae. They support this with the unusual abundance patterns observed in these HMP stars, which can be reproduced with core-collapse supernova models. The conversation then raises a question about whether these stars are Pop III, to which it is stated that the paper's findings conclude otherwise.
  • #1
wolram
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http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/astro-ph/pdf/0505/0505524.pdf

Title: The first chemical enrichment in the universe and the formation of hyper metal-poor stars
Authors: Nobuyuki Iwamoto, Hideyuki Umeda, Nozomu Tominaga, Ken'ichi Nomoto, Keiichi Maeda
Comments: To be published in Science. 12 pages, 3 figures

The recent discovery of a hyper metal-poor (HMP) star, whose metallicity Fe/H is smaller than 1/100,000 of the solar ratio, together with one earlier HMP star, has raised a challenging question if these HMP stars are the actual first generation, low mass stars in the Universe. We argue that these HMP stars are the second generation stars being formed from gases which were chemically enriched by the first generation supernovae. The key to this solution is the very unusual abundance patterns of these HMP stars with important similarities and differences. We can reproduce these abundance features with the core-collapse ``faint'' supernova models which undergo extensive matter mixing and fallback during the explosion.
 
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  • #2
Are these two stars pop 111? the chemical make up is suggestive that they
are, the close binary idea seems less likely to me.
 
  • #3
wolram said:
Are these two stars pop 111? the chemical make up is suggestive that they
are

Isn't that the opposite of the conclusion reached by the paper? Do you not agree with their findings?
 
  • #4
Space Tiger

Isn't that the opposite of the conclusion reached by the paper? Do you not agree with their findings?

Im not sure what their findings are, it always seems that more than one
possibility exists, and the most intuitive is always the one that is over ridden?
 
  • #5
wolram said:
Im not sure what their findings are

It says in the abstract you posted. They find that the abundances are consistent with supernova enrichment (i.e. not Pop III).
 

Related to Hyper Metal-Poor Stars: The First Generation in the Universe?

1. What are hyper metal-poor stars?

Hyper metal-poor stars are stars that have extremely low levels of heavy elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. They are considered to be the first generation of stars in the universe, formed from the primordial material left over from the Big Bang.

2. How are hyper metal-poor stars formed?

Hyper metal-poor stars are formed from the primordial gas and dust that existed in the early universe. These materials had very low levels of heavy elements, so the stars that formed from them have similarly low levels of heavy elements.

3. Why are hyper metal-poor stars important?

Hyper metal-poor stars are important because they provide valuable insights into the early universe and the processes that led to the formation of the first stars. They also help us to better understand the evolution of stars and galaxies over time.

4. How are hyper metal-poor stars studied?

Hyper metal-poor stars are studied using a variety of techniques, including spectroscopy, which analyzes the light emitted by the stars to determine their chemical composition. Astronomers also use computer simulations and models to study the formation and evolution of these stars.

5. What can we learn from studying hyper metal-poor stars?

Studying hyper metal-poor stars can provide important insights into the early universe and the conditions that existed shortly after the Big Bang. By studying these stars, we can also learn more about the processes that led to the formation of heavier elements and how they were distributed throughout the universe.

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