High-precision abundances of elements in solar twin stars

Abstract

Context. High-precision determinations of abundances of elements in the atmospheres of the Sun and solar twin stars indicate that the Sun has an unusual low ratio between refractory and volatile elements. This has led to the suggestion that the relation between abundance ratios, [X/Fe], and elemental condensation temperature, T C , can be used as a signature of the existence of terrestrial planets around a star. Aims. HARPS spectra with S /N > ∼ 600 for 21 solar twin stars in the solar neighborhood and the Sun (observed via reflected light from asteroids) are used to determine very precise (σ ∼ 0.01 dex) differential abundances of elements in order to see how well [X/Fe] is correlated with T C and other parameters such as stellar age. Methods. Abundances of C, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, and Y are derived from equivalent widths of weak and medium-strong spectral lines using MARCS model atmospheres with parameters determined from the excitation and ionization bal-ance of Fe lines. Non-LTE effects are considered and taken into account for some of the elements. In addition, precise (σ