Interstellar N and O Abundances in Low Metallicity Systems

Details Interstellar N and O Abundances in Low Metallicity Systems Interstellar N and O Abundances in Low Metallicity Systems

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004aas...205.9908n&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society Meeting 205, #99.08; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 36, p.1508

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

The portion of the stellar mass spectrum primarily responsible for nitrogen production in the universe has not been firmly established. To study the problem, we have rederived the N and O abundances for a carefully selected sample of 72 low metallicity [12+log(O/H)≤8.1] blue compact galaxies using published emission line strengths. In calculating the abundances we have paid particular attention to the determination of the associated abundance uncertainties. When the resulting values are plotted in the N/O-O/H plane, two distinct object groups emerge. The largest group comprises the well-known N/O plateau, where log(N/O) values exhibit a Gaussian distribution, and we employ a chi-square analysis to test the significance of the spread. A second, separate, smaller group consists of high N/O objects which fall above the plateau. Detailed chemical evolution models which properly account for the time delay in N release are employed in order to speculate about the origins of these two groups as well as the probable stellar synthesis site for nitrogen in the early universe. We gratefully acknowledge support from NSF grant AST-0307118 for this research.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Interstellar N and O Abundances in Low Metallicity Systems 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 Interstellar N and O Abundances in Low Metallicity Systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interstellar N and O Abundances in Low Metallicity Systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1641888