Galactic Chemical Evolution Redux: Atomic Numbers image Original Research Article

Motivated by the inability of Galactic chemical evolution models to reproduce some of the observed solar neighbourhood distribution of elements (and isotopes) with atomic numbers 6⩽Z⩽15, we have revisited the relevant stellar and Galactic models as part of an ambitious new program aimed at resolving these long-standing discrepancies. Avoiding the use of (traditional) parametric models for low- and intermediate-mass stellar evolution, we have generated a new, physically self-consistent, suite of stellar models and integrated the nucleosynthetic outputs into GEtool, our semi-analytical galactic chemical evolution software package. The predicted temporal evolution of several light- and intermediate- mass elements (and their isotopes) in the solar neighbourhood - from carbon to phosphorus - demonstrate the efficacy of the new yields in reconciling theory and observation.