Neon, Argon, and the Puzzle of Multiple Stellar Populations in Globular Clusters
Elemental Abundances Deneb Elemental Abundances Deneb

Neon, Argon, and the Puzzle of Multiple Stellar Populations in Globular Clusters

This paper explores why globular clusters like NGC 2808 contain stars with very different chemical compositions. The authors show that uncertainties in the initial abundances of noble gases, especially neon, and possibly argon, can significantly affect models of massive AGB stars. Enhancing neon and slightly lowering metallicity helps reproduce most observed abundance patterns, though the most extreme stars remain challenging to explain.

Read More