SDSS-IV MaNGA: Variations in the N/O-O/H Relation Bias Metallicity Gradient Measurements

Journal
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Schaefer, Adam L.
•
Tremonti, Christy
•
•
Pace, Zachary
•
Bershady, Matthew A.
•
Andrews, Brett H.
•
Drory, Niv
DOI
Abstract
In this Letter we use strong line calibrations of the N/O and O/H in Mapping Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) galaxy survey spaxel data to explore the systematics introduced by variations in N/O on various strong-line metallicity diagnostics. We find radial variations in N/O at fixed O/H that correlate with total galaxy stellar mass and that can induce ∼40% systematic uncertainties in oxygen abundance gradients when nitrogen-dependent abundance calibrations are used. Empirically, we find that departures from the expected N/O are associated with variation in the local star formation efficiency, as predicted by recent chemical evolution models for galaxies, but we cannot rule out other processes such as radial migration also playing a role.
Volume
890
Issue
1
Start page
L3
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0004-637X
Ads BibCode
2020ApJ...890L...3S
Rights
open.access
File(s)
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

Schaefer_2020_ApJL_890_L3.pdf

Description
[Administrators only]
Size

930.89 KB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

df35d9ac0e8f2be5213f5dac62373348

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

1911.00581.pdf

Description
preprint
Size

448.19 KB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

11caa0e4be9653e020cb633eeb4b8032