Uncovering the Chemical Signature of the First Stars in the Universe

Understand

The chemical abundance patterns observed in metal-poor Galactic halo stars contain the signature of the first supernovae, and thus allows us to probe the first stars that formed in the universe.

• We construct a theoretical model for the early chemical enrichment history of the Milky Way, aiming in particular at the contribution from pair-instability supernovae (PISNe).
• These are a natural consequence of current theoretical models for primordial star formation at the highest masses.
• However, no metal-poor star displaying the distinct PISN signature has yet been observed.