Galactic Chemical Evolution Redux: Atomic Numbers 6 < Z < 15

Abstract

Motivated by the inability of Galactic chemical evolution models to reproduce some of the observed solar neighbourhood distribution of elements (and isotopes) with atomic numbers 6 < Z < 15, we have revisited the relevant stellar and Galactic models as part of an ambitious new program aimed at resolving these long-standing discrepancies. Avoiding the use of (traditional) parametric models for low- and intermediate-mass stellar evolution, we have generated a new, physically self-consistent, suite of stellar models and integrated the nucleosynthetic outputs into GEtool, our semi-analytical galactic chemical evolution software package. The predicted temporal evolution of several light- and intermediate-mass elements (and their isotopes) in the solar neighbourhood - from carbon to phosphorus - demonstrate the efficacy of the new yields in reconciling theory and observation.