The Chemical Evolution of Galaxies: The Stellar Mass-Metallicity Relation

TL;DR

This paper compares a chemical evolution model with observations of star-forming galaxies, showing that with minimal parameters and the assumption of galaxy downsizing, the model accurately predicts stellar mass-metallicity relations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a simple multiple burst accretion model, with one additional parameter, can explain observed galaxy metallicities when linked to starburst behavior and galaxy downsizing.

Findings

Model aligns with observed stellar mass-metallicity data

Galaxy downsizing is essential for model consistency

Minimal parameter addition suffices for accurate predictions

Abstract

The predictions of the multiple burst accretion model of chemical evolution are compared to the observations of the stellar masses and metallicities of star-forming galaxies. With the addition of one parameter, the model can account for the observations of the star-forming galaxies if the observations of the galaxies are identified with the star bursting behaviour of the model. This consistency with the model holds only if galaxy downsizing is assumed to occur.