- The Puzzle of the Metallic Line Stars
In the puzzle of the metallic line (Am) stars, there still seem to be missing pieces. While the “normal” A stars have elemental abundances close to solar, the classical Am stars show stronger absorption lines for most heavy elements in their spectra. Elements with ionization potentials that nearly agree with those of hydrogen or helium have reduced abundances. The Ca ii and Sc ii lines are especially weak. The Am stars have no ultraviolet emission lines. They are binaries that, with very few exceptions, have rotational velocities vsin i lower than 100 km s−1. Of the main‐sequence A stars, 20% to 30% are Am stars. Here we rediscuss previous suggestions that tried to explain the peculiar line strengths in the Am star spectra. In particular, we compare the well‐studied properties of Hyades A and Am stars in order to identify reasons that can or cannot explain the differences. We find that accretion of interstellar material by A stars with distorted magnetic fields, which are weaker than those in peculiar A (Ap) stars, has the best chance of explaining the main characteristics of the peculiar heavy‐element abundances in Am star photospheres. Charge‐exchange reactions also seem to be important.
- John F. Kennedy (Wikipedia)
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected president. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the United States Congress prior to his presidency.