The recently improved information on the stellar (n, γ) cross sections of neutron-magic nuclei at N = 82, and in particular of 142 Nd, turned out to represent a sensitive test for models of s-process nucleosynthesis. While these data were found to be incompatible with the classical approach based on an exponential distribution of neutron exposures, they provide significantly better agreement between the solar abundance distribution of s nuclei and the predictions of models for low mass AGB stars. The origin of this phenomenon is identified as being due to the high neutron exposures at low neutron density obtained between thermal pulses when the 13 C burns radiatively in a narrow layer of a few 10 −4 M ⊙ . This effect is studied in some detail, and the influence of the presently available nuclear physics data is discussed with respect to specific further requests. In this context, particular attention is paid to a consistent description of s-process branchings in the region of the rare earth elements.It is shown that -in certain cases -the nuclear data are sufficiently accurate that the resulting abundance uncertainties can be completely attributed to stellar modelling. Thus, the s process becomes important for testing the role of different stellar masses and metallicities as well as for constraining the assumptions for describing the low neutron density provided by the 13 C source.

The content of neutron-capture (trans-iron-peak) elements in the lowmetallicity Galactic halo varies widely from star to star. The differences are both in bulk amount of the neutron-capture elements with respect to lighter ones and in element-to-element ratios among themselves. Several well-defined abundance distributions have emerged that reveal characteristic rapid and slow neutron-capture nucleosynthesis patterns. In this review we summarize these observed metal-poor star's abundances, contrasting them with the Solar-system values, comparing them to theoretical predictions, using them to assess the types of stars responsible for their specific anomalies, and speculating on the timing and nature of early Galactic nucleosynthesis. 241 Annu. Rev. Astro. Astrophys. 2008.46:241-288. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org by Carleton University (Canada) on 09/20/13. For personal use only.

We present a review of nucleosynthesis in AGB stars outlining the development of theoretical models and their relationship to observations. We focus on the new high resolution codes with improved opacities, which recently succeeded in accounting for the third dredge-up. This opens the possibility of understanding low luminosity C stars (enriched in s-elements) as the normal outcome of AGB evolution, characterized by production of 12 C and neutron-rich nuclei in the He intershell and by mass loss from strong stellar winds. Neutron captures in AGB stars are driven by two reactions: 13 C(α,n) 16 O, which provides the bulk of the neutron flux at low neutron densities (N n ≤ 10 7 n/cm 3 ), and 22 Ne(α,n) 25 Mg, which is mildly activated at higher temperatures and mainly affects the production of s-nuclei depending on reaction branchings. The first reaction is now known to occur in the radiative interpulse phase, immediately below the region previously homogenized by third dredge-up. The second reaction occurs during the convective thermal pulses. The resulting nucleosynthesis phenomena are rather complex and rule out any analytical approximation (exponential distribution of neutron fluences). Nucleosynthesis in AGB stars, modeled at different metallicities, account for several observational constraints, coming from a wide spectrum of sources: evolved red giants rich in s-elements, unevolved stars at different metallicities, presolar grains recovered from meteorites, and the abundances of s-process isotopes in the solar system. In particular, a good reproduction of the solar system main component is obtained as a result of Galactic chemical evolution that mixes the outputs of AGB stars of different stellar generations, born with different metallicities and producing different patterns of s-process nuclei. The main solar s-process pattern is thus not considered to be the result of a standard archetypal sprocess occurring in all stars. Concerning the 13 C neutron source, its synthesis requires penetration of small amounts of protons below the convective envelope, where they are captured by the abundant 12 C forming a 13 C-rich pocket. This penetration cannot be modeled in current evolutionary codes, but is treated as a free parameter. Future hydrodynamical studies of time dependent mixing will be required to attack this problem. Evidence of other insufficiencies in the current mixing algorithms is common throughout the evolution of low and intermediate mass stars, as is shown by the inadequacy of stellar models in reproducing the observations of CNO isotopes in red giants and in circumstellar dust grains. These observations require some circulation of matter between the bottom of convective envelopes and regions close to the H-burning shell (cool bottom processing). AGB stars are also discussed in the light of their possible contribution to the inventory of short-lived radioactivities that were found to be alive in the early solar system. We show that the pollution of the protosolar nebula by a close-by AGB st...