Evidence of multiple r-process sites in the early galaxy:: New observations of CS 22892-052

First results are reported of a new abundance study of neutron-capture elements in the ultra-metal-poor ([Fe/H] = - 3.1) halo field giant star CS 22892 - 052. Using new high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra, abundances of more than 30 neutron-capture elements (Z > 30) have been determined. Six elements in the 40 < Z < 56 domain (Nb, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, and Cd) have been detected for the first time in an ultra-metal-poor star. Abundances are also derived for three of the heaviest stable elements (Os, Ir. and Pb). A second transition of thorium, Th II lambda 4086, confirms the abundance deduced from the standard Th II lambda 4019 line, and an upper limit to the abundance of uranium is established from the absence of the U II lambda 3859 line. As found in previous studies, the abundances of the heavier (Z greater than or equal to 56) stable neutron-capture elements in CS 22892-052 match well the sealed solar system r-process abundance distribution. From the observed Th abundance, an average age of similar or equal to 16 +/- 4 Gyr is derived for CS 22892-052, consistent with the lower age limit of similar or equal to 11 Gyr derived from the upper limit on the U abundance. The concordance of scaled solar r-process and CS 22892-052 abundances breaks down for the lighter neutron-capture elements, supporting previous suggestions that different r-process production sites are responsible for lighter and heavier neutron-capture elements.