The pollution of the interstellar medium from AGB stars in Globular Clusters

Abstract

We discuss the yields from Asymptotic Giant Branch stars, depending on their mass and metallicity. In agreement with previous investigations, we find that the extent of Hot Bottom Burning increases with mass. The yields of models with chemistry typical of high–metallicity Globular Clusters, i.e. Z = 0.008, show only a modest depletion of magnesium, and an oxgen depletion of ~ 0.4 dex. Low–metallicity yields show a much stronger magnesium depletion, and a dramatic drop in the oxygen content, ~ 1.2dex smaller than the initial value. We suggest that the Globular Cluster NGC 2419 is a possible target to the hypothesis of the self–enrichment scenario of Globular Clusters by the winds of Asymptotic Giant Branch stars.