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Concept
Chemically peculiar star
Summary
In astrophysics, chemically peculiar stars (CP stars) are stars with distinctly unusual metal abundances, at least in their surface layers.
Chemically peculiar stars are common among hot main-sequence (hydrogen-burning) stars. These hot peculiar stars have been divided into 4 main classes on the basis of their spectra, although two classification systems are sometimes used:
non-magnetic metallic-lined (Am, CP1)
magnetic (Ap, CP2)
non-magnetic mercury-manganese (HgMn, CP3)
helium-weak (He-weak, CP4).
The class names provide a good idea of the peculiarities that set them apart from other stars on or near the main sequence.
The Am stars (CP1 stars) show weak lines of singly ionized Ca and/or Sc, but show enhanced abundances of heavy metals. They also tend to be slow rotators and have an effective temperature between 7000 and 10000K.
The Ap stars (CP2 stars) are characterized by strong magnetic fields, enhanced abundances of elements such as Si, Cr, Sr and Eu, and are also generally slow rotators. The effective temperature of these stars is stated to be between 8000 and 15000K, but the issue of calculating effective temperatures in such peculiar stars is complicated by atmospheric structure.
The HgMn stars (CP3 stars) are also classically placed within the Ap category, but they do not show the strong magnetic fields associated with classical Ap stars. As the name implies, these stars show increased abundances of singly ionized Hg and Mn. These stars are also very slow rotators, even by the standards of CP stars. The effective temperature range for these stars is quoted at between 10000 and 15000K.
The He-weak stars (CP4 stars) show weaker He lines than would be expected classically from their observed Johnson UBV colours. A rare class of He-weak stars are, paradoxically, the helium-rich stars, with temperatures of 18000–23000K.
It is generally thought that the peculiar surface compositions observed in these hot main-sequence stars have been caused by processes that happened after the star formed, such as diffusion or magnetic effects in the outer layers of the stars.
Official source
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