Re-evaluating the resolved mass-metallicity relation with a self-consistent metallicity calibration
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Aims. The mass–metallicity relation (MZR) is essential for understanding the chemical evolution of galaxies. Whether the star formation rate (SFR) plays a role in setting the metallicity has long been debated. Using various metallicity calibrations can result in different conclusions for this fundamental yet unresolved issue. Methods. We applied a self-consistent metallicity calibration based on photoionization models to re-evaluate the resolved and integrated MZR. We utilized the integral field unit data from SDSS-IV/MaNGA, with ∼3.5 × 10 6 spaxels and ∼4550 galaxies. We compared our preferred metallicity calibration with several strong-line calibrations in the literature and direct method metallicity. We analyzed the metallicity residual of MZR to evaluate the effects of SFR and applied the partial correlation coefficient to quantify the effects. Results. The metallicity calibration we used is most consistent with the direct method. We provide three equations for the resolved MZR and verify that the local SFR does not show significant correlation with metallicity. Considering the integrated properties, the (specific) SFRs do not present any correlation with the metallicity residuals. The results suggest that an equilibrium of inflow and outflow is favored, and the mass-metallicity relation does not exhibit a secondary dependence on the SFR.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: Ziming Peng, Renbin Yan, Zesen Lin, Xihan Ji
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
Funders: Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Department of Energy, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Yale University, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Vanderbilt University, Ohio State University, University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Notre Dame, University of Portsmouth, New Mexico State University, York University, University of Oxford, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Innovation and Technology Fund, Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Office of Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Leibniz-Gemeinschaft, Faculty of Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Awards: G1454151805, G4044983565, G7436553306
OpenAlex ID: W7203886377