r-process enhanced metal-poor stars

Abstract

In this review we summarize the current state of some aspects of observational studies of low metallicity stars that have been enriched with products of rapid-neutron-capture (r-process) nucleosynthesis events. Attention will be drawn to the element domains where there is little star-tostar variation in relative abundances (such as the rare earths), and those with substantial variations (the lightest neutron-capture elements and the very heavy radioactive elements Th and U). We highlight some new work bearing on our understanding of the limits of abundance distributions that can be produced in the r-process. Finally, comments will be made on the metallicity at which significant contributions from the s-process can be seen in Galactic halo stars. 11th Symposium on Nuclei in the Cosmos, NIC XI