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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

The solar, exoplanet and cosmological lithium problems

J. Meléndez, I. Ramírez, L. Casagrande, M. Asplund, B. Gustafsson, D. Yong, J. D. do Nascimento Jr., M. Castro, M. Bazot

Abstract
We review three Li problems. First, the Li problem in the Sun, for which some previous studies have argued that it may be Li-poor compared to other Suns. Second, we discuss the Li problem in planet hosting stars, which are claimed to be Li-poor when compared to field stars. Third, we discuss the cosmological Li problem, i.e. the discrepancy between the Li abundance in metal-poor stars (Spite plateau stars) and the predictions from standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. In all three cases we find that the “problems” are naturally explained by non-standard mixing in stars.

Keywords
Sun - Solar twins - Exoplanets - Metal-poor stars - Big bang nucleosynthesis

Notes
AX = log(NX/NH) + 12

Astrophysics and Space Science
Volume 328, Page 193
July 2010

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Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

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