The IMF in galaxy clusters: What is needed to account for high metal production?
Abstract
The gas in galaxy clusters is enriched in metal, typically to about 30% of solar metallicity. However, stars a relatively rare in clusters, meaning that the amount of metal produced per star is about 3 times as much as in the Milky Way. We set out to determine what changes to standard star formation are needed to reproduce the observed metal enhancement. Modifications include expanding the IMF to high mass (>130 M_sun) stars and including metal production from pair-instability supernovae, using an enhanced type-Ia SN rate, and using various modifications of the IMF to make it more top-heavy. For each set of assumptions, we use theoretical nucleosynthesis models to calculate the expected total metal yield per mass of star formation, and to predict the relative abundances of different elements. Including pair-instability supernovae will dramatically increase the amount of metal produced, and, combined with a slightly flatter IMF, can lead to 3 times the metal production per solar mass of star formation, along with an increase abundance of intermediate-mass elements.
- Publication:
-
IAU General Assembly
- Pub Date:
- August 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015IAUGA..2250096M