Cerium: the lithium substitute in post-AGB stars

Abstract

In this letter we present an alternative identification for the line detected in the spectra of s-process enriched low-mass post-AGB stars around 6708A and which was interpreted in the literature as due to Li. Newly released line lists of lanthanide species reveal, however, the likely identification of the line to be due to a CeII transition. We argue that this identification is consistent with the Ce abundance of all the objects discussed in the literature and conclude that in none of the low-mass s-process enriched post-AGB stars there is indication for Li-production.