Lithium and metallicity in the intermediate age open cluster NGC 752

Abstract

We have determined Li abundances (log n (Li)) and metallicity ([Fe/H]) in the ∼2 Gyr old open cluster NGC 752. The cluster turned out to have a nearly solar Fe content, at variance with previous reports of sub-solar metallicity. The Li distribution vs. effective temperature (Teff) of NGC 752 is very similar to those of IC 4651 and NGC 3680, which have similar age but different [Fe/H]. Moreover, similarly to the other two clusters, NGC 752 does not show a Li scatter as large as that observed in the solar age cluster M 67. In general, the Li vs. Teff distribution does not appear to depend significantly on metallicity, as shown by the comparison of NGC 752 with IC 4651 and NGC 3680; however, a weak dependence on metallicity might be present when comparing the three clusters in the [log n (Li), mass] plane. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.