Gas accretion as the origin of chemical abundance gradients in distant galaxies

G. Cresci (), F. Mannucci, R. Maiolino, A. Marconi, A. Gnerucci and L. Magrini
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G. Cresci: INAF – Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy
F. Mannucci: INAF – Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy
R. Maiolino: INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, via di Frascati 33, 00040 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
A. Marconi: Universitá di Firenze, Largo E. Fermi 2, 50125 Firenze, Italy
A. Gnerucci: Universitá di Firenze, Largo E. Fermi 2, 50125 Firenze, Italy
L. Magrini: INAF – Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy

Nature, 2010, vol. 467, issue 7317, 811-813

Abstract: Cool gas fuels star formation Although it is thought that some galaxies in the early Universe grew rapidly through violent mergers, the properties of many early galaxies are incompatible with that scenario. Cresci et al. now report chemical abundance data from three star-forming galaxies at redshift z = 3 — equivalent to only two billion years after the Big Bang — that support an alternative model: galactic growth through the accretion of cold gas. The central star-forming regions in these galaxies are found to have lower metallicity than the outer regions. This is opposite to what is seen in local galaxies and is consistent with the accretion of cold primordial (and hence low metallicity) gas.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09451

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