Hierarchical structure formation and chemical evolution of damped Lyα systems
- Creators
- Qian, Y.-Z.
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Wasserburg, G. J.
Abstract
We present a model for the chemical evolution of damped Lyα systems considering the production of "metals" by Type II supernovae and infall associated with hierarchical structure formation. The growth of metallicity in these systems is a reflection of the competition between astration and infall. The apparent late turn-on of these systems is due to the late cutoff of infall. The wide range in [Fe/H] at a given redshift is explained by the range of the times for the onset of star formation and the range of the times for infall cessation in different systems. The observed lower bound of [Fe/H] ≈ -3 follows from the very rapid initial rise of [Fe/H] subsequent to the onset of star formation. To reach [Fe/H] ≈ -3 from a metal-free initial state requires only ~30 Myr, so the probability of observing lower [Fe/H] values is very small.
Additional Information
© 2003 The American Astronomical Society. Received 2003 July 11; accepted 2003 August 19; published 2003 September 18. We wish to dedicate this Letter to Allan Sandage for galaxies of reasons. We thank Jason Prochaska for making available the new data that stimulated us to further consider DLA systems. Intense questioning by Michael Norman on the requirement of VMSs and a prompt inventory in our earlier models also provided a great stimulus. This work was supported in part by DOE grants DE-FG02-87ER40328, DE-FG02-00ER41149 (Y. Z. Q.), and DE-FG03-88ER13851 (G. J. W.), Caltech Division Contribution 8906(1108).Attached Files
Published - 1538-4357_596_1_L9.pdf
Submitted - 0309600v1.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 42423
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20131113-103654887
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- DE-FG02-87ER40328
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- DE-FG02-00ER41149
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- DE-FG03-88ER13851
- Created
-
2013-11-13Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Other Numbering System Name
- Lunatic Asylum Lab
- Other Numbering System Identifier
- 1108