Stochastic effects in the chemical evolution of galaxies
Abstract
The effect of interstellar medium element abundance fluctuations on the chemical evolution of galaxies is investigated by means of a simple mixing process model. A complete solution for the abundance distribution in a schematic inhomogeneous, steady state model is presented in which infalling gas replaces material consumed by star formation, and differential equations are given which describe the evolution of certain moments of abundance distribution in more general models. A major difference noted between homogeneous and moderately inhomogeneous chemical evolution models lies in the relative abundance distributions they predict for primary and secondary nucleosynthesis products. It is found that the dependence of N/O on O/H in nearby H II regions can be easily accounted for, even if N is assumed to be a purely secondary element.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- May 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/203.3.603
- Bibcode:
- 1983MNRAS.203..603W
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Models;
- Chemical Evolution;
- Galactic Evolution;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Stochastic Processes;
- Abundance;
- Differential Equations;
- H Ii Regions;
- Mathematical Models;
- Monte Carlo Method;
- Nitrogen;
- Oxygen;
- Astrophysics