A method for the determination of metal abundances in the Galactic nuclear bulge and nearby galaxies

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (15) References (27) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS A method for the determination of metal abundances in the Galactic nuclear bulge and nearby galaxies Scalo, J. M. ; Miller, G. E. Abstract A nonphotometric method for the determination of metal abundances in nearby galaxies is presented. The method involves a theoretical calibration of the observed strong correlation between the ratio of cool carbon stars to M giants (C/M ratio) with metal abundance, assuming that carbon stars are internally mixed during helium shell flashes. A lower limit on the mass fraction of metals in the Galactic nuclear bulge of 0.05 is determined by this means from the observed C/M ratio. The same method can be applied to Local Group galaxies when C/M ratios for these galaxies become available. The sensitivity of the C/M ratio to metal abundance may also affect the interpretation of galactic colors. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1981 DOI: 10.1086/183625 Bibcode: 1981ApJ...248L..65S Keywords: Abundance; Carbon Stars; Galactic Bulge; Galactic Nuclei; M Stars; Metallic Stars; Milky Way Galaxy; Giant Stars; Ratios; Stellar Temperature; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products NED (2)