The Analysis of AGB Star Photospheres

Abstract

The presence of excess 12C, 13C, 14N, Li, and the heavy s-process elements in the photospheres of AGB stars betray the operation of Eland 4He-burning, hot-bottom burning, and slow neutron-capture nucleosynthesis. Careful abundance analyses of these various elements provides insight into both nucleosynthesis events and mixing processes which occur deep within the AGB star. Recent results for the s-process are discussed.