2009MNRAS.398.1730S

An abundance analysis based on a high-resolution spectrum is presented for a newly discovered post-asymptotic giant branch (PAGB) star in the globular cluster M79. The surprising result is that the iron abundance of the star is apparently about 0.6 dex less than that of the cluster's red giants as reported by published studies including a recent high-resolution spectroscopic analysis by Carretta and colleagues. Abundances relative to iron appear to be the same for the PAGB star and the red giants for the 15 common elements. It is suggested that the explanation for the lower abundances of the PAGB star may be that its atmospheric structure differs from that of a classical atmosphere; the temperature gradient may be flatter than predicted by a classical atmosphere.