NEWS ON THE s PROCESS FROM YOUNG OPEN CLUSTERS

Recent spectroscopic measurements in open clusters younger than the Sun with [Fe/H] ≳ 0 showed that the abundances of neutron-rich elements have continued to increase in the Galaxy after the formation of the Sun, roughly maintaining a solar-like distribution. This growth requires neutron fluences larger than those so far assumed, as these would have too few neutrons per iron seed. We suggest that the observed enhancements can be produced by nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of low mass (M < 1.5 M☉) if they release neutrons from the 13C(α,n)16O reaction in reservoirs larger by a factor of four than assumed in more massive AGB stars (M > 1.5 M☉). Adopting such a stronger neutron source as a contributor to the abundances at the time of formation of the Sun, we show that this also affects the solar s-process distribution, so that its main component is well reproduced, without the need to assume ad hoc primary sources for the synthesis of s elements up to A ∼ 130, contrary to suggestions from other works. The changes in the expected abundances that we find are primarily due to the following reasons. (1) Enhancing the neutron source increases the efficiency of the s process, so that the ensuing stellar yields now mimic the solar distribution at a metallicity higher than before ([Fe/H ] ≳ −0.1). (2) The age–metallicity relation is rather flat for several Gyr in that metallicity regime, so that those conditions remain stable and the enhanced nuclear yields, which are necessary to maintain a solar-like abundance pattern, can dominate the composition of the interstellar medium from which subsequent stars are formed.