Zero-metallicity Hypernova Uncovered by an Ultra-metal-poor Star in the Sculptor Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy*

Although true metal-free Population III stars have so far escaped discovery, their nature, and that of their supernovae, is revealed in the chemical products left behind in the next generations of stars. Here we report the detection of an ultra-metal-poor star in the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy AS0039. With [Fe/H](LTE) = -4.11, it is the most metal-poor star discovered in any external galaxy thus far. Contrary to the majority of Milky Way stars at this metallicity, AS0039 is clearly not enhanced in carbon, with [C/Fe](LTE) = -0.75, and A(C) = +3.60, making it the lowest detected carbon abundance in any star to date. Furthermore, it lacks alpha-element uniformity, having extremely low [Mg/Ca](NLTE) = -0.60 and [Mg/Ti](NLTE) = -0.86, in stark contrast with the near solar ratios observed in C-normal stars within the Milky Way halo. The unique abundance pattern indicates that AS0039 formed out of material that was predominantly enriched by a similar to 20 M (circle dot) progenitor star with an unusually high explosion energy E = 10 x 10(51) erg. Therefore, star AS0039 represents some of the first observational evidence for zero-metallicity hypernovae and provides a unique opportunity to investigate the diverse nature of Population III stars.

Automated summary

The discovery of an ultra-metal-poor star in the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy AS0039 provides evidence for zero-metallicity hypernovae. This star, with extremely low carbon content and unique abundance pattern, is believed to have formed from material enriched by a progenitor star with high explosion energy.