Behaviors of Ca ii K line in A-type stars

A synthetic spectrum-fitting analysis was applied to the Ca II line at 3933.68 A for 122 A-type stars (7000 8000 K), the former tends to be lower (by up to -1 dex or even more) than the latter for cooler A stars (Te < 8000 K) including those "weak broad K line" objects, This fact suggests that some special mechanism reducing the strength of Ca II 3934 line is involved at Te < 8000 K where [Ca/H]39 would be no more reliable. Whereas atomic diffusion causing the deficit of Ca in the photosphere as a result of element segregation in the deeper radiative envelope may be regarded as a promising explanation because it seems to fit in the qualitative trend of [Ca/H]61 in A-type stars, the well-known feature of considerably weak Ca II K line in classical Am stars should not necessarily be attributed to only this element diffusion scenario, for which some unknown weakening mechanism specific to this resonance line may independently be operative.