Molybdenum in the open cluster stars

Abstract

Molybdenum abundances in the stars from 13 different open clusters were determined. High-resolution stellar spectra were obtained using the VLT telescope equipped with the UVES spectrograph on Cerro Paranal, Chile. The Mo abundances were derived in the LTE approximation from the Mo I lines at 5506 A and 5533 A. A comparative analysis of the behaviour of molybdenum in the sampled stars of open clusters and Galactic disc show similar trends of decreasing Mo abundances with increasing metallicities; such a behaviour pattern suggests a common origin of the examined populations. On the other hand, the scatter of Mo abundances in the open cluster stars is slightly greater, 0.14 dex versus 0.11 dex. The results are discussed, considering the abundance trends with the age of clusters and distances from the center of the Galaxy.