Iron abundances in G and K giants from near-infrared spectra

Abstract

High-resolution near-infrared spectra of Mu Leonis, Alpha Arietis, Epsilon Virginis, and Delta Tauri, published equivalent widths for Alpha Bootis and the sun, and a grid of flux-constant model atmospheres have been used to derive iron-to-hydrogen ratios. The results for the super-metal-rich prototype Mu Leo are in better agreement with photometric determinations of iron abundances than with previous spectroscopic analyses. Systematic errors associated with line blending should be less serious than at the shorter wavelengths used for the previous spectroscopic work.