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Title: The Galactic Distribution of Phosphorus: A Survey of 163 Disk and Halo Stars*

Journal Article · · The Astronomical Journal

Phosphorus (P) is a critical element for life on Earth, yet the cosmic production sites of P are relatively uncertain. To understand how P has evolved in the solar neighborhood, we measured abundances for 163 FGK stars over a range of –1.09 < [Fe/H] < 0.47 using observations from the Habitable-zone Planet Finder instrument on the Hobby–Eberly Telescope. Atmospheric parameters were calculated by fitting a combination of astrometry, photometry, and Fe I line equivalent widths. Phosphorus abundances were measured by matching synthetic spectra to a P I feature at 10529.52 Å. Our [P/Fe] ratios show that chemical evolution models generally underpredict P over the observed metallicity range. Additionally, we find that the [P/Fe] differs by ~0.1 dex between thin disk and thick disk stars that were identified with kinematics. The P abundances were compared with α-elements, iron-peak, odd-Z, and s-process elements, and we found that the evolution of P in the disk most strongly resembles that of the α-elements. We also find that molar P/C and N/C ratios for our sample match the scatter seen from other abundance studies. Finally, we measure a [P/Fe] = 0.09 ± 0.1 ratio in one low-α halo star and probable Gaia–Sausage–Enceladus member, an abundance ratio ~0.3–0.5 dex lower than the other Milky Way disk and halo stars at similar metallicities. Overall, we find that P is likely most significantly produced by massive stars in core-collapse supernovae, based on the largest P abundance survey to date.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Heising-Simons Foundation
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003843; AST-1006676; AST-1126413; AST-1310885; AST-1517592; AST-1310875; AST-1910954; AST-1907622; AST-1909506; ATI 2009889; ATI-2009982; NNA09DA76A; 2017-0494; AST-1907417; AST-2108736
OSTI ID:
1981218
Journal Information:
The Astronomical Journal, Vol. 164, Issue 2; ISSN 0004-6256
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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