Published July 10, 2014 | Version v1
Journal article

A CONSISTENT STUDY OF METALLICITY EVOLUTION AT 0.8 < z < 2.6

  • 1. Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstr. 1, D-85741 Garching (Germany)
  • 2. Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)
  • 3. Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Scheinerstr. 1, D-81679 München (Germany)
  • 4. Institute of Astronomy, Department of Physics, Eidgensösische Technische Hochschule, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 (Switzerland)

Description

We present the correlations between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and the [N II]/Hα flux ratio as an indicator of gas-phase metallicity for a sample of 222 galaxies at 0.8 < z < 2.6 and log (M */M ) = 9.0-11.5 from the LUCI, SINS/zC-SINF, and KMOS3D surveys. This sample provides a unique analysis of the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) over an extended redshift range using consistent data analysis techniques and a uniform strong-line metallicity indicator. We find a constant slope at the low-mass end of the relation and can fully describe its redshift evolution through the evolution of the characteristic turnover mass where the relation begins to flatten at the asymptotic metallicity. At a fixed mass and redshift, our data do not show a correlation between the [N II]/Hα ratio and SFR, which disagrees with the 0.2-0.3 dex offset in [N II]/Hα predicted by the ''fundamental relation'' between stellar mass, SFR, and metallicity discussed in recent literature. However, the overall evolution toward lower [N II]/Hα at earlier times does broadly agree with these predictions

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/789/2/L40

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Journal Volume
789
Journal Issue
2
Journal Page Range
[6 p.]
ISSN
2041-8205

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
46070974
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ASYMPTOTIC SOLUTIONS; CORRELATIONS; DATA ANALYSIS; GALAXIES; INDICATORS; MASS; METALLICITY; RED SHIFT; STAR EVOLUTION; STARS
Descriptors DEC
DATA PROCESSING; EVOLUTION; MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS; PROCESSING