Evolution of O abundance relative to Fe

Citation
Yz. Qian et Gj. Wasserburg, Evolution of O abundance relative to Fe, ASTROPHYS J, 549(1), 2001, pp. 337-345
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0004637X → ACNP
Volume
549
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Part
1
Pages
337 - 345
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(20010301)549:1<337:EOOART>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
We present a three-component mixing model for the evolution of O abundance relative to Fe, taking into account the contributions of the first very mas sive stars (with masses of greater than or similar to 100 M.) formed from B ig Bang debris. We show that the observations of O and Fe abundances in met al-poor stars in the Galaxy by Israelian et al. in 1998 and by Boesgaard et al. in 1999 can be well represented both qualitatively and quantitatively by this model. We use the representation of the number ratios (O/Fe) versus 1/(Fe/H). In this representation, if there is only a single source with a fixed production ratio of O to Fe beyond a certain point, the subsequent ev olution of (O/Fe) is along a straight line segment. Under the assumption of an initial Fe ([Fe/H] similar to -3) and O inventory caused by the prompt production by the first very massive stars, the data of Israelian et al. an d Boesgaard et al. at -3 less than or similar to [Fe/H] less than or simila r to -1 are interpreted to result from the addition of O and Fe only from T ype II supernovae (SNII) to the prompt inventory. At [Fe/H] greater than or similar to -1, SNII still contribute O while both SNII and Type Ia superno vae contribute Fe. During this later stage, (O/Fe) sharply drops off to an asymptotic value of similar to0.8 (O/Fe).. The value of (O/Fe) for the prom pt inventory at [Fe/H] similar to -3 is found to be (O/Fe) similar to 20 (O /Fe).. This result suggests that protogalaxies with low "metallicities" sho uld exhibit high values of (O/Fe). The C/O ratio produced by the first very massive stars is expected to be much less than 1 so that all the C should be tied up as CO and that C dust and hydrocarbon compounds should be quite rare at epochs corresponding to [Fe/H] less than or similar to -3.