Abstract
The shape of the oxygen abundance profile is examined for seven nearby spiral galaxies in which at least 15 H II regions have been observed. The radial abundance profile for three of these galaxies has a distinct change in slope. The others show no deviation from a single scale-length exponential. This behavior is explained within the framework of the star-forming viscous disk model of galaxy evolution. A prediction is made that radial abundance profiles of noninteracting unbarred spiral galaxies change slope at the radius where the rotation curve changes from linearly rising to flat. For barred and interacting galaxies the situation is complicated by additional mixing mechanisms of the interstellar medium.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | L73-L76 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 390 |
| Issue number | 2 PART 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 10 1992 |
Keywords
- Galaxies: abundances
- Galaxies: evolution
- H II regions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science