Are stellar surface heavy-element abundances systematically enhanced

Abstract

Stellar surface heavy-element abundances may be substantially higher than interior abundances if there is appreciable accretion of chemically fractionated matter after Hayashi-phase convection has terminated. The plausibility of appreciable accretion is discussed, and some possible observational consequences of enhanced surface heavy-element abundances are investigated. These consequences include a reduced solar neutrino flux, systematic variations in surface abundance along the main sequence and along the giant branch, and relatively low heavy-element abundances among planetary nebulas and white dwarfs and in the interstellar medium. There is marginal observational evidence in support of the hypothesis of enhanced stellar surface heavy-element abundances.