Mass–metallicity relation for local analogs of high-redshift galaxies: implications for the evolution of the mass–metallicity relations

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2017 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/834/1/51· OSTI ID:22869588

Bian, Fuyan; Kewley, Lisa J.; Dopita, Michael A. ^[1]; Blanc, Guillermo A. ^[2]

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1. Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mt. Stromlo Observatory, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2611 (Australia)
2. Departamento de Astronoma, Universidad de Chile, Camino del Observatorio 1515, Las Condes, Santiago (Chile)

We revisit the evolution of the mass–metallicity relation of low- and high-redshift galaxies by using a sample of local analogs of high-redshift galaxies. These analogs share the same location of the UV-selected star-forming galaxies at z∼2 on the [O iii]λ5007/Hβ versus [N ii]λ6584/Hα nebular emission-line diagnostic (or BPT) diagram. Their physical properties closely resemble those in z∼2 UV-selected star-forming galaxies being characterized, in particular, by high ionization parameters (logq≈7.9) and high electron densities (n{sub e}≈100 cm{sup −3}). With the full set of well-detected rest-frame optical diagnostic lines, we measure the gas-phase oxygen abundance in the SDSS galaxies and these local analogs using the empirical relations and the photoionization models. We find that the metallicity difference between the SDSS galaxies and our local analogs in the 8.5

• OSTI ID: 22869588
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 834; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
EMISSION
GALAXIES
MASS
METALLICITY
OXYGEN
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RED SHIFT
STARS