Lithium Abundance in Binaries of the Hyades Open Cluster

Abstract

We have derived accurate and homogeneous Lithium abundances in 49 main sequence binary systems belonging to the Hyades Open Cluster by using a deconvolution method to determine individual magnitudes and colors for the primary and secondary components of the binary. The input parameters of the model are the observed Li equivalent width, the actual distance to the binary, the integrated apparent magnitude and the integrated colors of the binaries -BV(RI)_K. We show that the general behavior is the same in binaries and in single stars (Li is depleted faster in K stars than in G stars and there is a deep dip for mid-F stars). However, there is a larger scatter in the abundances of binary systems than in single stars. Moreover, in general, binary systems have an overabundance, which is more conspicuous in close binaries. In fact, there is a cut-off period, which can be estimated as P(orb)~9 d. This value is in excellent agreement with the theoretical predition of Zahn (1994).