A comparative analysis of chemical abundances in the atmospheres of red giants of different age groups

We analyze previously published chemical abundances in the atmospheres of r ed giants. Excess abundances are observed not only for Na, but also for Al and Si, with the overabundances increasing with the stars' luminosity. The observed anomalies provide evidence that, in addition to the CNO hydrogen-b urning cycle, the Mg-Al and Ne-Na cycles operate in the interiors of main-s equence stars; their products are brought to the stellar atmospheres by con vection after the transition to the red-giant phase. The abundance anomalie s For s-process elements, also observed in the atmospheres of field stars, testify to the presence of a substantial number of neutrons. The s-process abundance anomalies are absent from giants of the young Hyades cluster. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".