Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2007-06-13
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361:20077674
We investigate the chemical evolution of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) based on abundance data of planetary nebulae (PNe). The main goal is to investigate the time evolution of the oxygen abundance in this galaxy by deriving an age-metallicity relation. Such a relation is of fundamental importance as an observational constraint of chemical evolution models of the SMC. We have used high quality PNe data in order to derive the properties of the progenitor stars, so that the stellar ages could be estimated. We collected a large number of measured spectral fluxes for each nebula, and derived accurate physical parameters and nebular abundances. New spectral data for a sample of SMC PNe obtained between 1999 and 2002 are also presented. These data are used together with data available in the literature to improve the accuracy of the fluxes for each spectral line. We obtained accurate chemical abundances for PNe in the Small Magellanic Cloud, which can be useful as tools in the study of the chemical evolution of this galaxy and of Local Group galaxies. We present the resulting oxygen versus age diagram and a similar relation involving the [Fe/H] metallicity based on a correlation with stellar data. We discuss the implications of the derived age-metallicity relation for the SMC formation, in particular by suggesting a star formation burst in the last 2-3 Gyr.
Costa Roberto D. D.
Idiart T. P.
Maciel Walter J.
No associations
LandOfFree
Chemical evolution of the Small Magellanic Cloud based on planetary nebulae does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Chemical evolution of the Small Magellanic Cloud based on planetary nebulae, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chemical evolution of the Small Magellanic Cloud based on planetary nebulae will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-451653