Masses have been computed for the white dwarfs (WDs) in eclipsing, mass exchange (symbiotic), WD–red giant (RG) binaries by using single-lined spectroscopic orbits, orbital inclinations, and the RG masses. Inclinations have been measured for 13 eclipsing symbiotic binaries. Using Gaia data the mass of the RG can be found from evolutionary tracks. Since the WD evolved from the more massive star in the binary, the WD should be more massive than predicted from the mass of the current RG. Typically the WD has a lower mass than expected implying a previous mass exchange stage for these systems.

Isotopic ratios are a powerful tool for gaining insights into stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. The isotopic ratios of the key elements carbon and oxygen are perfectly suited to investigate the pristine composition of red giants, the conditions in their interiors, and the mixing in their extended atmospheres. Of course the dust ejected from red giants in their final evolution also contains isotopically tagged material. This red giant dust is present in the solar system as presolar dust grains. We have measured isotopic ratios of carbon and oxygen in spectra from a large sample of AGB stars including both Miras and semiregular variables. We show how the derived ratios compare with expectations from stellar models and with measurements in presolar grains. Comparison of isotopes that are affected by different types of nucleosynthesis provides insights into galactic evolution.

We follow the chemical evolution of the Galaxy for the s elements using a Galactic chemical evolution (GCE) model, as already discussed by Travaglio et al. (1999, 2001, 2004), with a full updated network and refined asymptotic giant branch (AGB) models. Calculations of the s contribution to each isotope at the epoch of the formation of the solar system is determined by following the GCE contribution by AGB stars only. Then, using the r-process residual method we determine for each isotope their solar system r-process fraction, and recalculate the GCE contribution of heavy elements accounting for both the s and r process. We compare our results with spectroscopic abundances at various metallicities of [Sr,Y,Zr/Fe], of [Ba,La/Fe], of [Pb/Fe], typical of the three s-process peaks, as well as of [Eu/Fe], which in turn is a typical r-process element. Analysis of the various uncertainties involved in these calculations are discussed.

Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars play a fundamental role in s-process nucleosynthesis during their thermal pulsing phase. The theoretical predictions obtained by AGB models at different masses, s-process efficiencies, dilution factors and initial r-enrichment, are compared with spectroscopic observations of Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor stars enriched in s-process elements, CEMP(s), collected from the literature. We discuss here five stars as example, CS 22880-074, CS 22942-019, CS 29526-110, HE 0202-2204 and LP 625-44. All these objects lie on the main sequence or on the giant phase, clearly before the thermally pulsing AGB stage. The hypothesis of mass transfer from an AGB companion, would explain the observed s-process enhancement. CS 29526-110 and LP 625-44 are CEMP(s + r) objects, and are interpreted assuming that the molecular cloud, from which the binary system formed, was already enriched in r-process elements by SNII pollution. In several cases, the observed s-process distribution may be accounted for by AGB models of different initial masses with proper 13C-pocket efficiencies and dilution factors. Na (and Mg), produced via the neutron capture chain starting from 22Ne, may provide an indicator of the initial AGB mass.

Barium stars are extrinsic Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. They present the s-enhancement characteristic for AGB and post-AGB stars, but are in an earlier evolutionary stage (main sequence dwarfs, subgiants, red giants). They are believed to form in binary systems, where a more massive companion evolved faster, produced the s-elements during its AGB phase, polluted the present barium star through stellar winds and became a white dwarf. The samples of barium stars of Allen & Barbuy (2006) and of Smiljanic et al. (2007) are analysed here. Spectra of both samples were obtained at high-resolution and high S/N. We compare these observations with AGB nucleosynthesis models using different initial masses and a spread of 13C-pocket efficiencies. Once a consistent solution is found for the whole elemental distribution of abundances, a proper dilution factor is applied. This dilution is explained by the fact that the s-rich material transferred from the AGB to the nowadays observed stars is mixed with the envelope of the accretor. We also analyse the mass transfer process, and obtain the wind velocity for giants and subgiants with known orbital period. We find evidence that thermohaline mixing is acting inside main sequence dwarfs and we present a method for estimating its depth.

We investigate the thermal response of CO WDs accreting He-rich matter directly from their companions in binary systems. Our results suggest that the He-channel cannot provide progenitors for the majority of “normal” SNe Ia.

LMC clusters offer an outstanding opportunity to investigate the late stages of stellar evolution of stars in the mass range between 1.5 and 2 M⊙. In this presentation we will focus on our results on mixing events during the evolution along the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB). Surface abundances have been determined for a number of cluster AGB stars from high resolution near infrared spectra. We show for the first time the evolution of C/O and 12C/13C ratios along a cluster AGB. The change of both quantities due to dredge up events is compared with model predictions. Our results indicate the late occurrence of a moderate extra-mixing in some cases.

Amica (Antarctic Multiband Infrared Camera) is a dual-channel Infrared Imager (2-28μm), that will be located at the Nasmyth focus of the IRAIT telescope at Dome C. Dome C base, on Antarctic plateau offers an unique chance for infrared astronomy. It has several advantages like temperature, pressure and site environment. Temperature, around –60°C (mean) allows a good atmospheric stability (good seeing and good windows transparency) a low atmospheric background and the reduction of instrumental background. Pressure (equivalent of 4000 m a.s.l.), implies low content of water vapors; this means higher transmission, broader and new astronomical windows. The site offers the possibility of very long observations (about 6 months winter night).

The IRAIT (International Robotic Antarctic Infrared Telescope) project (Tosti et al. 2006) is based on a 80 cm aperture telescope to observe in the infrared range. It is due to start operations in spring 2008, several months after installation in Dome C (Antarctica). We describe the contributions made to such project by the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and the University of Granada, whose participation has been mainly focused in developing the moving optical system for the secondary (M2) and tertiary (M3) mirrors of the telescope. Moving parts of the optical system provide focusing and chopping capabilities, implemented in M2, and a rotation mechanism, implemented in M3, allow observation in either Nasmyth foci. The work package includes the design and construction of both mirrors, the mechanical supports, the electronics and the control software, all prepared to work at the low temperatures at Antarctica. A Spanish company, NTE, was contracted to carry out the design and manufacture. Tests at low temperature and integration in the telescope were finished during summer 2006, before sending the telescope to Antarctica, scheduled by the end of the same year.

We have analyzed the influence of the stellar populations, from which SN progenitors come, on the observational outcome, including the metal free Pop. III. We use our models to study the evolution of the progenitor, the subsequent explosion and the light curves. For Type Ia, the variation of the main sequence mass of the progenitor of the exploding WD produces an offset in the maximum-decline relation of 0.2 mag. This effect is critical for the use of high redshift Type Ia SNe as cosmological standard candles. In contrast, the metallicity does not change the above relation (at maximum, ΔMV ≤0.06 mag). For Type II, we find a dependence of the light curve properties with both main sequence mass and metallicity of the progenitor, and we identify a rather homogeneous subclass, “Extreme II-P,” that may be used as a quasi-standard candle. Note that, although not as good as Type Ia for distance determinations, Type II are expected to have occurred since the first stars were formed.