Comments on: lithium

By: cwmagee

cwmagee — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:14:07 +0000

If Li depletion is due to tidal interactions, then shouldn’t binarys be as low as or lower than solo planetary systems?

By: andy

andy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:34:05 +0000

The HD 178911 system also shows a lithium discrepancy between the two solar-type stars, with the planet-host depleted in lithium. Large lithium discrepancies have also been noted in other solar-twin binaries: perhaps these should be surveyed very carefully for planets?

By: greg

greg — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:41:17 +0000

Alpha Cen A, with an effective temperature of 5790K has log[N_Li]=1.4, which puts it very close to the Sun in the diagram on the post. Alpha Cen B has log[N_Li]<0.3, but its effective temperature falls to the left of the plot. I'm working on a follow-up post that will go into a bit more detail on this interesting question!

By: Volucris

Volucris — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:31:53 +0000

Great to hear your word about the lithium connection, but I was left wondering.. where does Alpha Centauri stand in these plots?

By: Lab Lemming

Lab Lemming — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:44:28 +0000

Um, stellar, not solar…

By: Lab Lemming

Lab Lemming — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:43:49 +0000

Has anyone looked into the possibility that Li in the solar nebula dissolves into Mg silicate precipitates, and thus doesn't get scattered or dragged back into the star? An alternative hypothesis is that planetless stars get lonely.

By: andy

andy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:55:59 +0000

Haven’t read the paper because it is behind the nature paywall. However it is interesting to note that in the 16 Cygni binary system with two sunlike stars, the planet host star 16 Cyg B seems to have approximately five times lower lithium abundance than the RV-stable 16 Cyg A.

By: TheoA

TheoA — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:13:50 +0000

Hmm.

Elsewhere it is noted that Lithium destruction takes place at the surface of the star.

Is that also correct?