Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: We study star formation history and stellar metallicity distribution in galaxies in a Λ cold dark matter universe using a hydrodynamic cosmological simulation. Our model predicts a star formation rate declining in time exponentially from an early epoch to the present on a timescale of 6 Gyr, which is consistent with the empirical Madau plot with modest dust obscuration. Star formation in L * galaxies continues intermittently to the present, also with an exponentially declining rate on a similar timescale, whereas in small galaxies star formation ceases at an early epoch. The mean age of the extant stars decreases only slowly with increasing redshift and exceeds 1 Gyr at z = 3. Normal galaxies contain stars with a wide range of metallicity and age: stars formed at z < 1 have metallicity of 0.1-1.0 Z ☉ , while old stars take a wide range of values, from 10 -6 to 3.0 Z ☉ . The mean metallicity of normal galaxies is in the range 0.1-1.0 Z ☉ . Dwarf galaxies that contain only old stars have a wide range of mean metallicity (10 -4 to 1.0 Z ☉ ), but on average they are metal-deficient compared with normal galaxies.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/322293
Authors: Kentaro Nagamine, Masataka Fukugita, Renyue Cen, Jeremiah P. Ostriker
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Princeton University
OpenAlex ID: W1986384244