CNO evolution: Milky way, dwarf galaxies and DLAs

Author: Chiappini C.  

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

ISSN: 0004-640X

Source: Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol.284, Iss.2, 2003-01, pp. : 771-774

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

We compute the evolution of the C, N, O and Fe abundances as a function of time and galactocentric distance in the Milky Way (MW) for different sets of stellar yields. We then apply the `best' nucleosynthesis prescriptions found for the MW to other galaxies. Our main conclusions are: a) once the available observational data are properly interpreted, there is no compelling evidence for requiring the production of primary N in massive stars; b) both C and N we see today in the ISM come mainly from low- and intermediate-mass stars.