Detection of the Second r-process Peak Element Tellurium in Metal-Poor
  Stars
  Using near-ultraviolet spectra obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging
Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope, we detect neutral tellurium in
three metal-poor stars enriched by products of r-process nucleosynthesis, BD+17
3248, HD 108317, and HD 128279. Tellurium (Te, Z=52) is found at the second
r-process peak (A=130) associated with the N=82 neutron shell closure, and it
has not been detected previously in Galactic halo stars. The derived tellurium
abundances match the scaled solar system r-process distribution within the
uncertainties, confirming the predicted second peak r-process residuals. These
results suggest that tellurium is predominantly produced in the main component
of the r-process, along with the rare earth elements.
