Sulfur Abundances in Orion B Stars

Sulfur abundances are derived for a sample of ten B MS star members of the Orion association. The analysis is based on LTE model atmospheres and non-LTE line formation theory by means of spectrum synthesis analysis of SlI and Sill lines. The abundance distribution obtained for the Orion targets is homogeneous within the errors in the analysis: A(S) = 7.15±0.05. This abundance result is in agreement with the solar value and with results for the Orion nebula. The sulfur abundances for Orion combined with previous results for other OB-type stars produce a relatively shallow sulfur abundance gradient with a slope of —0.037±0.012 dex Kpc-1.