THE METAL-POOR KNEE IN THE FORNAX DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXY
THE METAL-POOR KNEE IN THE FORNAX DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXY
复制标题
穹窿矮球状星系中贫金属的膝盖
DOI:
10.1088/0004-637x/785/2/102
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发表时间:
2014
期刊:
影响因子:
--
通讯作者:
Gilmore
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Hendricks;Lanfranchi;Boeche;Walker;Johnson;Peñarrubia;Gilmore
We present α-element abundances of Mg, Si, and Ti for a large sample of field stars in two outer fields of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy, obtained with Very Large Telescope/GIRAFFE (R∼ 16, 000). Due to the large fraction of metal-poor (MP) stars in our sample, we are able to follow the α-element evolution from [Fe/H]≈− 2.5 continuously to [Fe/H]≈− 0.7. For the first time we are able to resolve the turnover from the Type II supernovae (SNe) dominated, α-enhanced plateau down to subsolar [α/Fe] values, due to the onset of SNe Ia, and thus to trace the chemical enrichment efficiency of the galaxy. Our data support the general concept of an α-enhanced plateau at early epochs, followed by a well-defined" knee" caused by the onset of SNe Ia, and finally a second plateau with sub-solar [α/Fe] values. We find the position of this knee to be at [Fe/H]≈− 1.9 and therefore significantly more MP than expected from comparison with other dSphs and standard evolutionary models. Surprisingly, this value is rather comparable to the knee in Sculptor, a dSph∼ 10 times less luminous than Fornax. Using chemical evolution models, we find that the position of the knee and the subsequent plateau at the sub-solar level can hardly be explained unless the galaxy experienced several discrete star formation (SF) events with a drastic variation in SF efficiency, while a uniform SF can be ruled out. One possible evolutionary scenario is that Fornax experienced one or several major accretion events from gas-rich systems in the past, so that its current stellar mass is not indicative of the chemical evolution environment at ancient times. If Fornax is the product of several smaller buildings blocks, this may also have implications for the understanding of the formation process of dSphs in general.
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DOI:
10.1086/115769
发表时间:
1991
期刊:
The Astronomical Journal
影响因子:
--
作者:
T. Armandroff;G. Costa
通讯作者:
G. Costa
影响因子:
6.5
作者:
S. Larsen;J. Strader;J. P. F. R. U. Nijmegen;The Netherlands.;Harvard-Smithsonian Cfa;Usa;M. University;UCOLick Observatory
通讯作者:
S. Larsen;J. Strader;J. P. F. R. U. Nijmegen;The Netherlands.;Harvard-Smithsonian Cfa;Usa;M. University;UCOLick Observatory
DOI:
--
发表时间:
2010
期刊:
影响因子:
--
作者:
G. Lanfranchi;F. Matteucci
通讯作者:
F. Matteucci
DOI:
10.1086/499490
发表时间:
2005
期刊:
The Astronomical Journal
影响因子:
--
作者:
A. Koch;E. Grebel;R. Wyse;J. Kleyna;M. Wilkinson;D. Harbeck;G. Gilmore;N. Evans
通讯作者:
N. Evans
影响因子:
6.5
作者:
Y. Revaz;P. Jablonka;P. Jablonka
通讯作者:
P. Jablonka