Detailed abundances of KOI stars with planets. I.

Each star, save one, has at least one planet with a radius <=1.6R_{Earth}_, suggesting a primarily rocky composition. The stellar parameters and abundances are derived from high signal-to-noise ratio, high-resolution echelle spectroscopy obtained with the 10m Keck I telescope and High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer using standard spectroscopic techniques.

The metallicities of the seven stars range from -0.32 to +0.13dex, with an average metallicity that is subsolar, supporting previous suggestions that, unlike Jupiter-type giant planets, small planets do not form preferentially around metal-rich stars. The abundances of elements other than iron are in line with a population of Galactic disk stars, and despite our modest sample size, we find hints that the compositions of stars with small planets are similar to stars without known planets and with Neptune-size planets, but not to those of stars with giant planets.