Can stellar transport deplete lithium uniformly by a factor three?
In plain words
Inside stars, elements slowly sink and mix, which can carry lithium down to where it burns. The question is whether this happens by the same factor in every old star, as the flat plateau requires.
Precise statement
For stars of $0.6 \text{ to } 0.8\,M_{\mathrm{sun}}$ with $[\mathrm{Fe}/\mathrm{H}] < -2$ and ages $12 \text{ to } 13\,\mathrm{Gyr}$, determine whether atomic diffusion plus convective-boundary and rotational mixing reduces surface $\mathrm{Li}/\mathrm{H}$ from ~5e-10 to ~1.6e-10 with star-to-star dispersion below $0.1\,\mathrm{dex}$, and reproduces the drop in Li below $[\mathrm{Fe}/\mathrm{H}] \sim -3$. Answer yes with a model calibrated on globular-cluster turnoff and subgiant stars, or no.
What would settle it
3D hydrodynamic and asteroseismically calibrated stellar models matched to lithium in globular cluster turnoff and subgiant stars.
Related problems
- Special case of What explains the threefold lithium-7 deficit in old halo stars?