The Chemical Evolution of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies: Dissecting the Inner Regions and their Stellar Populations

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

10 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS accepted

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13175.x

Using 3-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of isolated dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs), we undertake an analysis of the chemical properties of their inner regions, identifying the respective roles played by Type Ia (SNe Ia) and Type II (SNe II) supernovae. The effect of inhomogeneous pollution from SNe Ia is shown to be prominent within two core radii, with the stars forming therein amounting to ~20% of the total. These stars are relatively iron-rich and alpha-element-depleted compared to the stars forming in the rest of the galaxy. At odds with the projected stellar velocity dispersion radial profile, the actual 3-dimensional one shows a depression in the central region, where the most metal-rich (ie. [Fe/H]-rich) stars are partly segregated. This naturally results in two different stellar populations, with an anti-correlation between [Fe/H] and velocity dispersion, in the same sense as that observed in the Sculptor and Fornax dSphs. Because the most iron-rich stars in our model are also the most alpha-depleted, a natural prediction and test of our model is that the same radial segregation effects should exist between [alpha/Fe] and velocity dispersion.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

The Chemical Evolution of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies: Dissecting the Inner Regions and their Stellar Populations 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 The Chemical Evolution of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies: Dissecting the Inner Regions and their Stellar Populations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Chemical Evolution of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies: Dissecting the Inner Regions and their Stellar Populations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-405955

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.