High-resolution high signal-to-noise spectra of the Li I 6707 angstrom
line in the subdwarfs HD 19445 and HD 84937 have been analyzed for th
e presence of Li-6. By measurement of the Li I lines's wavelength and
analysis of its profile, the atmosphere of HD 84937 is shown to have a
small amount of Li-6: R = Li-6/Li = 0.05 +/- 0.02. For HD 19445, an u
pper limit is set of R < 0.02. The presence of Li-6 in HD 84937 is con
sistent with the mild depletion of Li-6 predicted by standard (nonrota
ting) models and the initial presence of Li-6 in the halo produced by
(principally) alpha-on-alpha fusion reactions involving the cosmic ray
s that are required to account for the Be and B observed in subdwarfs.
Depletion of Li-6 in the lower mass star HD 19445 is expected to remo
ve the initial Li-6 content and, hence. the absence of Li-6 is expecte
d. If Yale models of rotating subdwarfs are adopted, the predicted sev
ere depletion of Li-6 and the observed survival of Li-6 in HD 84937 ha
ve to be reconciled. Four suggestions are made: the rotating models ar
e inapplicable to halo dwarfs, production of Li-6 by cosmic rays has b
een underestimated, the required high initial Li-6 abundance of the ha
lo was produced prior to the formation of the Galaxy, or the Li-6 was
produced in stellar flares.