Carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars in different environments

Abstract

The origin of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars and their possible connections with the chemical elements produced by the first stellar generations is still highly debated. We briefly review observations of CEMP stars in different environments (Galactic stellar halo, ultra-faint and classical dwarf galaxies) and interpret their properties using cosmological chemical-evolution models for the formation of the Local Group. We discuss the implications of current observations for the properties of the first stars, clarify why the fraction of carbon-enhanced to carbon-normal stars varies in dwarf galaxies with different luminosity, and discuss the origin of the first CEMP(-no) star found in the Sculptor dwarf galaxy.