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Hierarchical structure formation and chemical evolution of galaxies

Qian, Y.-Z. and Wasserburg, G. J. (2004) Hierarchical structure formation and chemical evolution of galaxies. Astrophysical Journal, 612 (2). pp. 615-627. ISSN 0004-637X. doi:10.1086/422805. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20131118-091323698

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Abstract

We present an analytical and phenomenological model for metal enrichment in halos based on hierarchical structure formation. This model assumes that astration of normal stellar populations along with Type II supernovae (SNe II) already occurs at very high redshift. It focuses on the regime of [Fe/H] < -1, in which SNe Ia are not major contributors. The regime of [Fe/H] > -1, in which SNe Ia are major contributors, is also discussed in general. For halos that are not disrupted by SN II explosions, the chemical evolution of the gas and stars is explicitly determined by the rate of gas infall as compared with the astration rate and the corresponding rate of metal production by SNe II per H atom in the gas. This model provides a good description of the data on [Fe/H] for damped Lyα systems over a wide range of redshift, 0.5 < z < 5. For all halos not disrupted by SN II explosions, if there is a cessation of gas infall, the metallicities of the stars follow a bimodal distribution. This distribution is characterized by a sharp peak at the value of [Fe/H] corresponding to the time of infall cessation and by a broad peak at a higher value of [Fe/H] corresponding to the subsequent period of astration during which the bulk of the remaining gas forms stars. Such a distribution can be compared with that observed for the Galactic halo stars. If the gas in a halo is rapidly lost on cessation of infall, then an assemblage of stars with a very sharply defined [Fe/H] value will be left behind. This assemblage of stars may be accreted by a larger system and become a globular cluster of the larger system. We discuss the masses and metallicities of the globular clusters in this model considering the criterion for the onset of astration and possible disruption of low-mass halos by SN II explosions. The implications of possible globular clusters with very low metallicities of [Fe/H] ≾-3 are also discussed.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/422805 DOIArticle
http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/612/2/615/PublisherArticle
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Wasserburg, G. J.0000-0002-7957-8029
Additional Information:© 2004 The American Astronomical Society Received 2004 February 24; accepted 2004 May 19. We would like to acknowledge the anonymous referee for one of our earlier studies on cosmochemical evolution (Qian & Wasserburg 2003a) for being supportive and for suggesting that we might pay attention to infall. Good advice sometimes does fall in. We also want to thank the anonymous referee for the present work and the scientific editor for helpful suggestions. This work was supported in part by DOE grants DE-FG02-87ER40328, DE-FG02-00ER41149 (Y. Z. Q.), and DE-FG03-88ER13851 (G. J. W.), Caltech Division Contribution 8909 (1111).
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Department of Energy (DOE)DE-FG02-87ER40328
Department of Energy (DOE)DE-FG02-00ER41149
Department of Energy (DOE)DE-FG03-88ER13851
Subject Keywords:galaxies: abundances — galaxies: evolution — intergalactic medium
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences8909
Lunatic Asylum Lab1111
Issue or Number:2
DOI:10.1086/422805
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20131118-091323698
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20131118-091323698
Official Citation:Hierarchical Structure Formation and Chemical Evolution of Galaxies Y.-Z. Qian and G. J. Wasserburg 2004 ApJ 612 615
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:42515
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Tony Diaz
Deposited On:19 Nov 2013 19:53
Last Modified:10 Nov 2021 16:24

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