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arXiv 0901.0548astro-ph.GA
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早型星系的质量-金属丰度梯度关系

The mass-metallicity gradient relation of early-type galaxies

Max Spolaor, Robert N. Proctor, Duncan A. Forbes, Warrick J. Couch

摘要:

我们提出了一个新观察到的星系质量与早型星系径向金属丰度梯度之间的关系。我们的51个早期型星系样本涵盖了从矮星系到最亮星系团星系的全面质量范围。通过将几乎所有的Lick吸收线指数与最近的单个恒星星族模型进行比较,可以测量出一个有效半径的金属丰度梯度。该关系在低质量和高质量时表现出非常不同的行为,在质量约为3.5 x 10^10太阳质量时(速度色散约为140 km/s,M_B约为-19),可以看到一个急剧的转变。低质量星系与质量形成紧密的关系,因此金属丰度梯度随着质量的减少而变浅,并且在非常低质量的一端为正。在质量转变点上方,几个大质量星系的梯度更陡,但可以看到明显的下降,其特征是广泛的分散。与竞争模型预测的结果进行了解释。我们发现,早期的恒星形成坍缩可能是低质量星系形成的主要机制,恒星形成效率随着星系质量的增加而增加。高质量的下降可能是合并的结果,观察到的更大的散射是不同合并属性的自然结果。这些结果表明,质量阈值在~ 3.5 × 10^10太阳质量阈值以上的星系可能最初是由富含气体的盘状星系合并形成的,然后通过干合并事件演化而来。耗散合并引起的星爆和反馈过程的不同效率塑造了这些高质量系统中的径向金属丰度梯度。

英文摘要:

We present a newly observed relation between galaxy mass and radial metallicity gradients of early-type galaxies. Our sample of 51 early-type galaxies encompasses a comprehensive mass range from dwarf to brightest cluster galaxies. The metallicity gradients are measured out to one effective radius by comparing nearly all of the Lick absorption-line indices to recent models of single stellar populations. The relation shows very different behaviour at low and high masses, with a sharp transition being seen at a mass of ~ 3.5 x 10^10 M_sun (velocity dispersion of ~140 km/s, M_B ~ -19). Low-mass galaxies form a tight relation with mass, such that metallicity gradients become shallower with decreasing mass and positive at the very low-mass end. Above the mass transition point several massive galaxies have steeper gradients, but a clear downturn is visible marked by a broad scatter. The results are interpreted in comparison with competing model predictions. We find that an early star-forming collapse could have acted as the main mechanism for the formation of low-mass galaxies, with star formation efficiency increasing with galactic mass. The high-mass downturn could be a consequence of merging and the observed larger scatter a natural result of different merger properties. These results suggest that galaxies above the mass threshold of ~ 3.5 x 10^10 M_sun might have formed initially by mergers of gas-rich disc galaxies and then subsequently evolved via dry merger events. The varying efficiency of the dissipative merger-induced starburst and feedback processes have shaped the radial metallicity gradients in these high-mass systems.

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