Li-rich giants in the Galactic Bulge. Is Li linked only to evolutionary status?

Abstract

Abstract. In our detailed study of chemical abundances in the Galactic bulge (see Zoccali et al. 2008 for a description of the entire project) we have measured Li abundances by fitting synthetic spectra to the 7 Li (6707.18Å) line for ∼ 400 giants in Baade's Window and a field at b = -6 (Gonzalez et al. 2009). We have found 13 stars showing strong 7 Li lines in complete contrast to the rest of the sample for which only upper limits could be obtained. Our sample is at least 1.2 mag brighter than the expected RGB bump, therefore we interpreted our results as evidence for stars that might have avoided the observed extra-mixing process or undergoing a Li enrichment process not necessarily linked to the RGB bump.