Inhomogeneous chemical evolution of the Galactic disk

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (70) References (77) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Inhomogeneous Chemical Evolution of the Galactic Disk Malinie, Guy ; Hartmann, Dieter H. ; Clayton, Donald D. ; Mathews, Grant J. Abstract We present analytical models for inhomogeneous chemical evolution (ICE) of systems in which the star formation history resembles a series of bursts, localized in space and/or time, with intermittent periods of remixing. The additional parameter of this model is the metallicity increment of bursting subsystems, but this parameter is constrained by the spread in the age-metallicity relation. We apply this model to the solar annulus in the Galactic disk and show that ICE models yield an improved fit to the observed shape of the stellar abundance distribution function (ADF). The G-dwarf problem can be alleviated with ICE models, but infall of metal poor gas and/or some preenrichment of the disk during the epoch of protogalactic evolution is still required to explain the paucity of low-metallicity dwarfs. ICE models also suggest an explanation of the reduced frequency of metal-rich G-dwarfs relative to the predictions of the simple model. It does not seem likely that chemical evolution of the solar annulus proceeded in a medium that was well-mixed at all times. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: August 1993 DOI: 10.1086/173032 Bibcode: 1993ApJ...413..633M Keywords: Chemical Evolution; Galactic Evolution; Metallicity; Star Formation; Stellar Composition; Abundance; Astronomical Models; Dwarf Stars; Astrophysics; STARS: ABUNDANCES; STARS: EVOLUTION; STARS: STATISTICS full text sources ADS |