Measuring Hydrogen-to-Helium Ratio in Cool Stars

Abstract

Conventionally, the helium-to-hydrogen ratio for the stars are adopted to be 0.1, as standard, unless, the stars are severely deficient in hydrogen like in RCB-class, or the stars' helium abundance is accurately measured using He I transitions in warm/hotter stars. In our study, the small change in helium-to-hydrogen ratio (from standard value, 0.1) in normal giants were detected from the large difference (> 0.3 dex) in the Mg-abundance measured from Mg I lines and the subordinate lines of (0,0) MgH band. These are the stars that are mildly hydrogen-deficient/He-enhanced. Such stars were spectroscopically discovered for the first time among giants of the globular cluster Omega Centauri. The sample selection, observations, methodology and results are discussed in detail.

Accepted for publication in Bulletin de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liège (BSRSL), In press 10 Pages, 3 Figures and 1 Table. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1408.1205