Description
We report the discovery of RAVE J203843.2-002333, a bright (V=12.73), very metal-poor ([Fe/H]=-2.91), r-process-enhanced ([Eu/Fe]=+1.64 and [Ba/Eu]=-0.81) star selected from the RAVE survey. This star was identified as a metal-poor candidate based on its medium-resolution (R~1600) spectrum obtained with the KPNO/Mayall Telescope, and followed up with high-resolution (R~66000) spectroscopy with the Magellan/Clay Telescope, allowing for the determination of elemental abundances for 24 neutron-capture elements, including thorium and uranium. RAVE J2038-0023 is only the fourth metal-poor star with a clearly measured U abundance. The derived chemical abundance pattern exhibits good agreement with those of other known highly r-process- enhanced stars, and evidence suggests that it is not an actinide-boost star. Age estimates were calculated using U/X abundance ratios, yielding a mean age of 13.0+/-1.1Gyr.
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