Nucleosynthetic yields of Z=10(-5) intermediate-mass stars

Context. Observed abundances of extremely metal-poor stars in the Galactic halo hold clues for understanding the ancient universe. Interpreting these clues requires theoretical stellar models in a wide range of masses in the low-metallicity regime. The existing literature is relatively rich with extremely metal-poor massive and low-mass stellar models. However, relatively little information is available on the evolution of intermediate-mass stars of Z less than or similar to 10(-5), and the impact of the uncertain input physics on the evolution and nucleosynthesis has not yet been systematically analysed.Aims. We aim to provide the nucleosynthetic yields of intermediate-mass Z=10(-5) stars between 3 and 7.5 M-circle dot, and quantify the effects of the uncertain wind rates. We expect these yields could eventually be used to assess the contribution to the chemical inventory of the early universe, and to help interpret abundances of selected C-enhanced extremely metal-poor (CEMP) stars.Methods. We compute and analyse the evolution of surface abundances and nucleosynthetic yields of Z=10(-5) intermediate-mass stars from their main sequence up to the late stages of their thermally pulsing (Super) AGB phase, with different prescriptions for stellar winds. We use the postprocessing code MONSOON to compute the nucleosynthesis based on the evolution structure obtained with the Monash-Mount Stromlo stellar evolution code MONSTAR. By comparing our models and others from the literature, we explore evolutionary and nucleosynthetic trends with wind prescriptions and with initial metallicity (in the very low-Z regime). We also compare our nucleosynthetic yields to observations of CEMP-s stars belonging to the Galactic halo.Results. The yields of intermediate-mass extremely metal-poor stars reflect the effects of very deep or corrosive second dredge-up (for the most massive models), superimposed with the combined signatures of hot-bottom burning and third dredge-up. Specifically, we confirm the reported trend that models with initial metallicity Z(ini)less than or similar to 10(-3) give positive yields of C-12, N-15, O-16, and Mg-26. The Ne-20, Ne-21, and Mg-24 yields, which were reported to be negative at Z(ini)greater than or similar to 10(-4), become positive for Z=10(-5). The results using two different prescriptions for mass-loss rates differ widely in terms of the duration of the thermally pulsing (Super) AGB phase, overall efficiency of the third dredge-up episode, and nucleosynthetic yields. We find that the most efficient of the standard wind rates frequently used in the literature seems to favour agreement between our yield results and observational data. Regardless of the wind prescription, all our models become N-enhanced EMP stars.

Automated summary

This study aims to provide nucleosynthetic yields of intermediate-mass Z=10^(-5) stars between 3 and 7.5 solar masses, and assess the effects of uncertain wind rates. The results show that models with initial metallicity Z(ini) less than or similar to 10^(-3) give positive yields of certain elements, while the choice of mass-loss rates significantly impacts the duration and efficiency of stellar evolution. Despite differences in wind prescriptions, all models become N-enhanced extremely metal-poor stars.