The NIRVANDELS Survey: a robust detection of α-enhancement in star-forming galaxies at z ≃ 3.4. Issue 1 (12th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cullen, F; Shapley, A E; McLure, R J; Dunlop, J S; Sanders, R L; Topping, M W; Reddy, N A; Amorín, R; Begley, R; Bolzonella, M; Calabrò, A; Carnall, A C; Castellano, M; Cimatti, A; Cirasuolo, M; Cresci, G; Fontana, A; Fontanot, F; Garilli, B; Guaita, L; Hamadouche, M; Hathi, N P; Mannucci, F; McLeod, D J; Pentericci, L; Saxena, A; Talia, M; Zamorani, G
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 505:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 903
• Page End: 920
• Publication Date: 2021-05-12
• Subjects: galaxies: abundances -- galaxies: high redshift; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab1340
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We present results from the NIRVANDELS survey on the gas-phase metallicity ( Z g, tracing O/H) and stellar metallicity ( Z ⋆, tracing Fe/H) of 33 star-forming galaxies at redshifts 2.95 < z < 3.80. Based on a combined analysis of deep optical and near-IR spectra, tracing the rest-frame far-ultraviolet (FUV; 1200–2000 Å) and rest-frame optical (3400–5500 Å), respectively, we present the first simultaneous determination of the stellar and gas-phase mass–metallicity relationships (MZRs) at z ≃ 3.4. In both cases, we find that metallicity increases with increasing stellar mass ( M ⋆ ) and that the power-law slope at M ⋆ ≲ 10 10 M⊙ of both MZRs scales as $Z \propto M_{\star }^{0.3}$ . Comparing the stellar and gas-phase MZRs, we present direct evidence for super-solar O/Fe ratios (i.e. α-enhancement) at z > 3, finding (O/Fe) = 2.54 ± 0.38 × (O/Fe)⊙, with no clear dependence on M ⋆ .