No Arabic abstract
We used a one-zone chemical evolution model to address the question of how many masses and metallicities are required in grids of massive stellar models in order to ensure reliable galactic chemical evolution predictions. We used a set of yields that includes seven masses between 13 and 30 Msun, 15 metallicities between 0 and 0.03 in mass fraction, and two different remnant mass prescriptions. We ran several simulations where we sampled subsets of stellar models to explore the impact of different grid resolutions. Stellar yields from low- and intermediate-mass stars and from Type Ia supernovae have been included in our simulations, but with a fixed grid resolution. We compared our results with the stellar abundances observed in the Milky Way for O, Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, and Mn. Our results suggest that the range of metallicity considered is more important than the number of metallicities within that range, which only affects our numerical predictions by about 0.1 dex. We found that our predictions at [Fe/H] < -2 are very sensitive to the metallicity range and the mass sampling used for the lowest metallicity included in the set of yields. Variations between results can be as high as 0.8 dex, for any remnant mass prescription. At higher [Fe/H], we found that the required number of masses depends on the element of interest and on the remnant mass prescription. With a monotonic remnant mass prescription where every model explodes as a core-collapse supernova, the mass resolution induces variations of 0.2 dex on average. But with a remnant mass prescription that includes islands of non-explodability, the mass resolution can cause variations of about 0.2 to 0.7 dex depending on the choice of metallicity range. With such a prescription, explosive or non-explosive models can be missed if not enough masses are selected, resulting in over- or under-estimations of the mass ejected by massive stars.
In this contribution we focus on results from chemical evolution models for the solar neighbourhood obtained by varying the IMF. Results for galaxies of different morphological type are discussed as well. They argue against a universal IMF independent of star forming conditions.
We use fossil record techniques on the CALIFA sample to study how galaxies in the local universe have evolved in terms of their chemical content. We show how the metallicity and the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) evolve through time for the galaxies in our sample and how this evolution varies when we divide them based on their mass, morphology and star-forming status. We also check the impact of measuring the metallicity at the centre or the outskirts. We find the expected results that the most massive galaxies got enriched faster, with the MZR getting steeper at higher redshifts. However, once we separate the galaxies into morphology bins this behaviour is not as clear, which suggests that morphology is a primary factor to determine how fast a galaxy gets enriched, with mass determining the amount of enrichment. We also find that star-forming galaxies appear to be converging in their chemical evolution, that is, the metallicity of star-forming galaxies of different mass is very similar at recent times compared to several Gyr ago.
Stellar evolution computations provide the foundation of several methods applied to study the evolutionary properties of stars and stellar populations, both Galactic and extragalactic. The accuracy of the results obtained with these techniques is linked to the accuracy of the stellar models, and in this context the correct treatment of the transport of chemical elements is crucial. Unfortunately, in many respects calculations of the evolution of the chemical abundance profiles in stars are still affected by sometime sizable uncertainties. Here, we review the various mechanisms of element transport included in the current generation of stellar evolution calculations, how they are implemented, the free parameters and uncertainties involved, the impact on the models, and the observational constraints.
In this paper, we study the formation and chemical evolution of the Milky Way disc with particular focus on the abundance patterns ([$alpha$/Fe] vs. [Fe/H]) at different Galactocentric distances, the present-time abundance gradients along the disc and the time evolution of abundance gradients. We consider the chemical evolution models for the Galactic disc developed by Grisoni et al. (2017) for the solar neighborhood, both the two-infall and the one-infall ones, and we extend our analysis to the other Galactocentric distances. In particular, we examine the processes which mainly influence the formation of the abundance gradients: the inside-out scenario, a variable star formation efficiency, and radial gas flows. We compare our model results with recent abundance patterns obtained along the Galactic disc from the APOGEE survey and with abundance gradients observed from Cepheids, open clusters, HII regions and PNe. We conclude that the inside-out scenario is a key ingredient, but cannot be the only one to explain abundance patterns at different Galactocentric distances and abundance gradients. Further ingredients, such as radial gas flows and variable star formation efficiency, are needed to reproduce the observed features in the thin disc. The evolution of abundance gradients with time is also shown, although firm conclusions cannot still be drawn.
We present an extenstive literature compilation of age, metallicity, and chemical abundance pattern information for the 41 Galactic globular clusters (GGCs) studied by Schiavon et al. (2005). Our compilation constitutes a notable improvement over previous similar work, particularly in terms of chemical abundances. Its primary purpose is to enable detailed evaluations of and refinements to stellar population synthesis models designed to recover the above information for unresolved stellar systems based on their integrated spectra. However, since the Schiavon sample spans a wide range of the known GGC parameter space, our compilation may also benefit investigations related to a variety of astrophysical endeavours, such as the early formation of the Milky Way, the chemical evolution of GGCs, and stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. For instance, we confirm with our compiled data that the GGC system has a bimodal metallicity distribution and is uniformly enhanced in the alpha-elements. When paired with the ages of our clusters, we find evidence that supports a scenario whereby the Milky Way obtained its globular clusters through two channels, in situ formation and accretion of satellite galaxies. The distributions of C, N, O, and Na abundances and the dispersions thereof per cluster corroborate the known fact that all GGCs studied so far with respect to multiple stellar populations have been found to harbour them. Finally, using data on individual stars, we also confirm that the atmospheres of stars become progressively polluted by CN(O)-processed material after they leave the main sequence and uncover evidence which suggests the alpha-elements Mg and Ca may originate from more than one nucleosynthetic production site. [abridged]