Gaia FGK benchmark stars: Spectral library and abundances of α and Fe-peak elements of the third version

Context . Accurate determination of the chemical abundances in stars plays a pivotal role in understanding stellar structure and evolution, nucleosynthesis, and the chemical enrichment history of the Milky Way. Benchmark stars with precise and accurate atmospheric parameters and abundances are indispensable for calibrating spectroscopic surveys and testing stellar atmosphere models. Aims . This study focuses on the compilation of high-quality spectra and the determination of chemical abundances of iron-peak and α elements for the third version of the Gaia FGK benchmark stars (GBSv3). Methods . We compiled spectra of the GBSv3 from public archives and complemented these with our observations. We used fundamental atmospheric parameters to perform a spectroscopic analysis using the public code iSpec and derived the chemical abundances. Results . We compiled a homogeneous spectral library of high-resolution (42 000) and high signal-to-noise (>100) normalised spectra for 202 stars, including the 192 GBSv3, nine stars with indirect measurement of the angular diameter from previous Gaia FGK benchmark versions, and the Sun. Using four radiative transfer codes, we derived chemical abundances of 13 chemical species (Fe I, Fe II, Mg I, Si I, Ca I, Ti I, Ti II, Sc II, V I, Cr I, Mn I, Co I, Ni I). We performed an in-depth study of several sources of error. Conclusions . The GBSv3 contributes to the legacy samples of spectroscopic reference stars through improved statistics and homogeneity. This work offers the community a homogeneous spectral library and robust reference abundances for iron-peak and α elements, supported by an extensive analysis of the associated uncertainties.

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Publication Details

Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2025-11-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555211
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.15

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article

Gaia FGK benchmark stars: Spectral library and abundances of α and Fe-peak elements of the third version

S. Blanco-Cuaresma, N. Lagarde, C. Aguilera-Gomez, C. Soubiran et al.
1 citations
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
1.15
article

Gaia FGK benchmark stars: Spectral library and abundances of α and Fe-peak elements of the third version

S. Blanco-Cuaresma, N. Lagarde, C. Aguilera-Gomez, C. Soubiran, U. Heiter, S. S. Elgueta, P. Jofré, R. Carrera, O. L. Creevey, L. Casamiquela, Sara Vitali, N. Brouillet, L. Balaguer-Núñez, D. Slumstrup, Jesse Palmerio, Á. Rojas-Arriagada, I. Hernández--Araya
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Context . Accurate determination of the chemical abundances in stars plays a pivotal role in understanding stellar structure and evolution, nucleosynthesis, and the chemical enrichment history of the Milky Way. Benchmark stars with precise and accurate atmospheric parameters and abundances are indispensable for calibrating spectroscopic surveys and testing stellar atmosphere models. Aims . This study focuses on the compilation of high-quality spectra and the determination of chemical abundances of iron-peak and α elements for the third version of the Gaia FGK benchmark stars (GBSv3). Methods . We compiled spectra of the GBSv3 from public archives and complemented these with our observations. We used fundamental atmospheric parameters to perform a spectroscopic analysis using the public code iSpec and derived the chemical abundances. Results . We compiled a homogeneous spectral library of high-resolution (42 000) and high signal-to-noise (>100) normalised spectra for 202 stars, including the 192 GBSv3, nine stars with indirect measurement of the angular diameter from previous Gaia FGK benchmark versions, and the Sun. Using four radiative transfer codes, we derived chemical abundances of 13 chemical species (Fe I, Fe II, Mg I, Si I, Ca I, Ti I, Ti II, Sc II, V I, Cr I, Mn I, Co I, Ni I). We performed an in-depth study of several sources of error. Conclusions . The GBSv3 contributes to the legacy samples of spectroscopic reference stars through improved statistics and homogeneity. This work offers the community a homogeneous spectral library and robust reference abundances for iron-peak and α elements, supported by an extensive analysis of the associated uncertainties.

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 705
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (CL), Uppsala University (SE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université de Bordeaux (FR), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (CL), Université Côte d'Azur (FR), Université Paris Cité (FR), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR), Université Paris-Saclay (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Sorbonne Paris Cité (FR), Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (ES), Millennium Institute of Astrophysics (CL), Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (FR), Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (ES), Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian (US), Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur (FR), CEA Paris-Saclay (FR), Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES), Gran Telescopio Canarias (Spain) (ES), Universitat de Barcelona (ES), National Institute for Astrophysics (IT), Universidad Diego Portales (CL)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Commission, Swedish National Space Agency, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universitat de Barcelona, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Departamento de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Institut de Ciències del Cosmos
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
1.15
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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