The stellar content of the Hamburg/ESO survey. V. The metallicity distribution function of the Galactic halo

Details The stellar content of the Hamburg/ESO survey. V. The metallicity distribution function of the Galactic halo The stellar content of the Hamburg/ESO survey. V. The metallicity distribution function of the Galactic halo

2008-09-06

arxiv.org/abs/0809.1172v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted for publication in A&A

Scientific paper

We determine the metallicity distribution function (MDF) of the Galactic halo by means of a sample of 1638 metal-poor stars selected from the Hamburg/ESO objective-prism survey (HES). The sample was corrected for minor biases introduced by the strategy for spectroscopic follow-up observations of the metal-poor candidates, namely "best and brightest stars first". [...] We determined the selection function of the HES, which must be taken into account for a proper comparison between the HES MDF with MDFs of other stellar populations or those predicted by models of Galactic chemical evolution. The latter show a reasonable agreement with the overall shape of the HES MDF for [Fe/H] > -3.6, but only a model of Salvadori et al. (2007) with a critical metallicity for low-mass star formation of Z_cr = 10^{-3.4} * Z_Sun reproduces the sharp drop at [Fe/H] ~-3.6 present in the HES MDF. [...] A comparison of the MDF of Galactic globular clusters and of dSph satellites to the Galaxy shows qualitative agreement with the halo MDF, derived from the HES, once the selection function of the latter is included. However, statistical tests show that the differences between these are still highly significant. [ABSTRACT ABRIDGED]

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The stellar content of the Hamburg/ESO survey. V. The metallicity distribution function of the Galactic halo 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 stellar content of the Hamburg/ESO survey. V. The metallicity distribution function of the Galactic halo, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The stellar content of the Hamburg/ESO survey. V. The metallicity distribution function of the Galactic halo will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-5257