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Simulated observations of heavy elements with CUBES

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Abstract

We investigate the feasibility of robust abundances for selected neutron-capture elements (Ge, Bi, Hf, U) from near-UV spectroscopy with the CUBES instrument now in development for the Very Large Telescope. We use the CUBES end-to-end simulator to synthesise observations of the Ge I 3039 Å and Hf II 3400 and 3719 Å lines in a very metal-poor star, using the well-studied star CS 31082-001 as a template. From simulated 4 hr exposures, we recover estimated abundances to ± 0.1 dex for Ge for U ∼ 14.25 mag., and for Hf for U = 18 mag. These performances neatly highlight the powerful gain of CUBES for near-UV observations of targets that are two-to-three magnitudes fainter than the existing observations of CS 31082-001 (U= 12.5 mag.). We also investigate the weak Bi I 3025 Å and U II 3860 Ålines (for U ∼ 14.25 and 16 mag., respectively), finding that simulated 4 hr exposures should provide upper limits to these observationally challenging lines.

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Notes

  1. http://www.eso.org/observing/etc/skycalc/skycalc.htm

  2. Nd II 3859.413 Å, V I 3859.337 Å, Sc II 3859.358 Å, and Fe I 3859.213, 3859.911 Åas well as a contribution from a CN feature.

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Acknowledgements

HE acknowledges a CAPES PhD fellowship, and a PRINT/CAPES fellowship in support of his year of study at the University of Edinburgh. HE and BB acknowledge partial financial support from FAPESP, CNPq, and CAPES - Financial code 001. HE and CJE also acknowledge support from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) from UK Research and Innovation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade de São Paulo, IAG, Rua do Matão 1226, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil

    H. Ernandes & B. Barbuy

  2. LNA/MCTI, Rua Estados Unidos, 154 - 37504-364, Itajubá, Brazil

    B. Castilho

  3. UK ATC, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ, UK

    C. J. Evans

  4. INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via Tiepolo 11, I-34131, Trieste, Italy

    G. Cescutti

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  1. H. Ernandes
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  2. B. Barbuy
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  3. B. Castilho
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  4. C. J. Evans
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  5. G. Cescutti
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Correspondence to H. Ernandes.

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Ernandes, H., Barbuy, B., Castilho, B. et al. Simulated observations of heavy elements with CUBES. Exp Astron 55, 149–163 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-021-09829-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-021-09829-2

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