Stars/Bariums

"Barium stars are spectral class G to K giants, whose spectra indicate an overabundance of s-process elements by the presence of singly ionized barium, Ba II, at λ 455.4 nm. Barium stars also show enhanced spectral features of carbon, the bands of the molecules CH, CN and C₂."

Binary stars

Main articles: Stars/Binaries and Binary stars

"Observational studies of their radial velocity suggested that all barium stars are binary stars Observations in the ultraviolet using [the] International Ultraviolet Explorer detected white dwarfs in some barium star systems."

Theoretical barium stars

"Barium stars are believed to be the result of mass transfer in a binary star system. The mass transfer occurred when the presently-observed giant star was on the main sequence. Its companion, the donor star, was a carbon star on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), and had produced carbon and s-process elements in its interior. These nuclear fusion products were mixed by convection to its surface. Some of that matter "polluted" the surface layers of the main sequence star as the donor star lost mass at the end of its AGB evolution, and it subsequently evolved to become a white dwarf. We are observing these systems an indeterminate amount of time after the mass transfer event, when the donor star has long been a white dwarf, and the "polluted" recipient star has evolved to become a red giant."

Stellar surface fusion

Main articles: Stars/Surface fusion and Stellar surface fusion

Barium stars exhibit carbon and s-process elements at their surfaces suggesting surface fusion possible during mass transfer or without it.

Main-sequence stars

Main articles: Stars/Main-sequences and Main-sequence stars

"The mass transfer hypothesis predicts that there should be main sequence stars with barium star spectral peculiarities. At least one such star, HR 107, is known."

"Prototypical barium stars include zeta Capricorni, HR 774, and HR 4474."

See also

• Stars/Nova-likes