The chemical DNA of the Magellanic Clouds IV. Unveiling extreme element production: the Eu abundance in the Small Magellanic Cloud⋆

Shared by Gary on Oct 31, 2025 • 07:36 AM UTC

Abstract

In this study we investigate the chemical enrichment of the rapid neutron-capture process in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We measure [Eu/Fe] abundance ratios in 209 giant stars that are confirmed members of the SMC, providing the first extensive dataset of Eu abundances in this galaxy across it...

Subject

Galaxies: Magellanic Clouds; Techniques: spectroscopic; Stars: abundances

Highlights

-The study presents the first extensive Eu abundance dataset for the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) across its full metallicity range, based on high-resolution spectra of 209 giant stars.

-SMC shows enhanced [Eu/Fe] values at all metallicities with a decline as [Fe/H] increases, and [Eu/Mg] remains enhanced by about +0.5 dex across the metallicity range, significantly higher than in the Milky Way.

-Ba/Eu increases with metallicity, indicating a progressive increase of the s-process contribution with metallicity, with the SMC showing distinct Eu production relative to α- and s-processes compared to the MW.

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Highlights

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