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The use of abundance ratios involving Y, or other slow-neutron capture elements, are routinely used to infer stellar ages.Aims.We aim to explain the observed [Y/H] and [Y/Mg] abundance ratios of star clusters located in the inner disc with a new prescription for mixing in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. In a Galactic chemical evolution model, we adopt a new set of AGB stellar yields in which magnetic mixing is included. We compare the results of the model with a sample of abundances and ages of open clusters located at different Galactocentric distances. The magnetic mixing causes a less efficient production of Y at high metallicity. A non-negligible fraction of stars with super-solar metallicity is produced in the inner disc, and their Y abundances are affected by the reduced yields. The results of the new AGB model qualitatively reproduce the observed trends for both [Y/H] and [Y/Mg] vs age at different Galactocetric distances. Our results confirm from a theoretical point of view that the relationship between [Y/Mg] and stellar age cannot be universal, i.e., the same in every part of the Galaxy. It has a strong dependence on the star formation rate, on the s-process yields and their relation with metallicity, and thus it varies across the Galactic disc., Accepted for publication as an A&A Letter

We present new FLAMES@VLT spectroscopic observations of 30 stars in the field of the LMC stellar cluster NGC 1866. NGC 1866 is one of the few young and massive globular cluster that is close enough so that its stars can be individually studied in detail. Radial velocities have been used to separate stars belonging to the cluster and to the LMC field and the same spectra have been used to derive chemical abundances for a variety of elements, from [Fe/H] to the light (i.e. Na, O, Mg...) to the heavy ones. The average iron abundance of NGC 1866 turns out to be [Fe/H]= -0.43+-0.01 dex (with a dispersion of 0.04 dex), from the analysis of 14 cluster-member stars. Within our uncertainties, the cluster stars are homogeneous, as far as chemical composition is concerned, independent of the evolutionary status. The observed cluster stars do not show any sign of the light elements 'anti-correlation' present in all the Galactic globular clusters so far studied, and also found in the old LMC stellar clusters. A similar lack of anti-correlations has been detected in the massive intermediate-age LMC clusters, indicating a different formation/evolution scenario for the LMC massive clusters younger than ~3 Gyr with respect to the old ones. Also opposite to the Galactic globulars, the chemical composition of the older RGB field stars and of the young post-MS cluster stars show robust homogeneity suggesting a quite similar process of chemical evolution. The field and cluster abundances are in agreement with recent chemical analysis of LMC stars, which show a distinctive chemical pattern for this galaxy with respect to the Milky Way. We discuss these findings in light of the theoretical scenario of chemical evolution of the LMC., Part of this work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation projects AYA2008-04211-C02-02.

We present computations of nucleosynthesis in low‐mass asymptotic‐giant‐branch stars of solar metallicity experiencing deep mixing. In this framework, we discuss the effects of recent improvements in relevant reaction rates for proton captures on intermediate‐mass nuclei. The calculations are then performed on the basis of a parameterized circulation, where the effects of the new nuclear inputs are best compared to previous works. We find that especially the new reaction rate for the 14N(p,γ)15O reaction implies considerable modifications in the composition of low mass red giant stars.

The full understanding of final stellar evolution phases is a fundamental request to properly investigate the Universe at any temporal and spatial scale. While the theoretical scenarios of H‐ and He‐burning have been deeply investigated in the last 30 years, the modelling of stellar evolution beyond the core‐helium burning phase and the related nucleosynthesis still present problems related to the physics and to the numerical methods. Low mass AGB Stars (1

We present a chemical analysis of two metal‐poor carbon stars belonging to the Carina Dwarf Spheroidal galaxy using high resolution optical spectra obtained with the VLT/UVES instrument. Their derived properties and chemical composition are compatible with these stars being in the TP‐AGB phase undergoing third dredge‐up episodes, although their extrinsic nature cannot be definitively discarded. The analysis indicates that these stars have large s‐element enhancements, which are compatible with theoretical s‐process nucleosynthesis predictions in low‐mass AGB stars (∼1.5M⊙), and also large carbon enhancements (C/O⩾5), much larger than the values typically found in galactic AGB carbon stars (C/O∼1–2). This is also in agreement with the theoretical prediction that carbon stars are formed more easily through third dredge‐up episodes as the initial stellar metallicity drops. We speculate on the possibility that the abundance pattern found in the low‐mass s‐elements (Y, Zr) may be revealing the existence of som...

In this contribution we present the first measurements of the C/O ratio for a sample of AGB stars in the LMC globular cluster NGC 1846. From a variability study we set strong constraints on the mass of the cluster stars, which is an important quantity for comparison with evolutionary models. Variations of the surface abundance both with luminosity and pulsation properties were found and the various relevant factors are discussed. We find a good agreement with our synthetic models if we assume [O/Fe] = ±0.2 dex. The F abundance seems to increase with the C/O ratio. As variability plays a key role on the AGB we give some preliminary results from our study of abundance determination in the dynamical case at the end of this paper.

During the AGB phase of low and intermediate mass stars heavy s–process elements are produced and dredged–up in the envelope. In the following Planetary Nebula phase part of the AGB envelope will form the nebula around the hot central star, carrying the s–process signature unchanged. Recently, heavy elements have been observed is many Planetary Nebulae, providing a new tool to analyze the s–process nucleosynthesis working in the AGB stars. In this paper we present s–process predictions for a large spread of stellar masses, metallicities and 13C–pocket efficiencies. Theoretical results are compared with the most recent observations in PNe, finding a general good agreement.