Halo metal-poor stars chemical data

We also analyzed our sample with the SEGUE stellar parameter pipeline to obtain additional determinations of the atmospheric parameters and iron and alpha-element abundances, which we then compare with ours. In addition, we used these parameters to infer [C/Fe] ratios. Ca is typically the only element in these spectra with a moderate to low signal-to-noise ratio and medium resolution in this metallicity regime with lines that are sufficiently strong to reliably measure its abundance.

Fe and Mg exhibit weaker features that in most cases only provide upper limits. We measured [Ca/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] for EMP stars in the SDSS spectra and conclude that most of the stars exhibit the typical enhancement level for alpha-elements, ~+0.4, although some stars for which only [Fe/H] upper limits could be estimated indicate higher [alpha/Fe] ratios. We also find that 26% of the stars in our sample can be classified as carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars and that the frequency of CEMP stars also increases with decreasing metallicity, as has been reported for previous samples.

We identify a rare, bright (g=11.90) EMP star, SDSS J134144.61+474128.6, with [Fe/H]=-3.27, [C/Fe]=+0.95, and elevated magnesium ([Mg/Fe]=+0.62), an abundance pattern typical of CEMP-no stars.