An elevated abundance of alpha elements (oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, calcium, titanium) relative to iron in stellar atmospheres. This chemical signature indicates the star formed from gas enriched primarily by massive star supernovae rather than Type Ia supernovae.
From Greek 'alpha' referring to alpha particles (helium nuclei) that build these elements through successive capture, and English 'enhancement' meaning increase. The term reflects how these elements are synthesized through alpha-process nucleosynthesis in massive stars.
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