Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship

C. Foster; Andrew M. Hopkins; Madusha Gunawardhana; M. A. Lara-Lopez; Robert G. Sharp; Oliver Steele; Edward N. Taylor; Simon P. Driver; Ivan K. Baldry; Steven P. Bamford; Jochen Liske; Jon Loveday; Peder Norberg; John A. Peacock; Mehmet Alpaslan; A. E. Bauer; Joss Bland-Hawthorn; Sarah Brough; Ewan Cameron; Matthew Colless; Christopher J. Conselice; Scott M. Croom; Carlos S. Frenk; David T. Hill; David Heath Jones; Lee S. Kelvin; Konrad Kuijken; Robert C. Nichol; M. S. Owers; Hannah R. Parkinson; Kevin A. Pimbblet; Cristina C. Popescu; Matthew Prescott; Aaron S. G. Robotham; Angel R. Lopez-Sanchez; Will J. Sutherland; Daniel Thomas; Richard J. Tuffs; Eelco Van Kampen; D. B. Wijesinghe

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220050

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship

C. Foster, Andrew M. Hopkins, Madusha Gunawardhana, M. A. Lara-Lopez, Robert G. Sharp, Oliver Steele, Edward N. Taylor, Simon P. Driver, Ivan K. Baldry, Steven P. Bamford, Jochen Liske, Jon Loveday, Peder Norberg, John A. Peacock, Mehmet Alpaslan, A. E. Bauer, Joss Bland-Hawthorn, Sarah Brough, Ewan Cameron, Matthew CollessChristopher J. Conselice, Scott M. Croom, Carlos S. Frenk, David T. Hill, David Heath Jones, Lee S. Kelvin, Konrad Kuijken, Robert C. Nichol, M. S. Owers, Hannah R. Parkinson, Kevin A. Pimbblet, Cristina C. Popescu, Matthew Prescott, Aaron S. G. Robotham, Angel R. Lopez-Sanchez, Will J. Sutherland, Daniel Thomas, Richard J. Tuffs, Eelco Van Kampen, D. B. Wijesinghe

Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Context. The mass-metallicity relationship (MMR) of star-forming galaxies is well-established, however there is still some disagreement with respect to its exact shape and its possible dependence on other observables.

Aims. We measure the MMR in the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. We compare our measured MMR to that measured in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and study the dependence of the MMR on various selection criteria to identify potential causes for disparities seen in the literature.

Methods. We use strong emission line ratio diagnostics to derive oxygen abundances. We then apply a range of selection criteria for the minimum signal-to-noise in various emission lines, as well as the apparent and absolute magnitude to study variations in the inferred MMR.

Results. The shape and position of the MMR can differ significantly depending on the metallicity calibration and selection used. After selecting a robust metallicity calibration amongst those tested, we find that the mass-metallicity relation for redshifts 0.061 ≲ z ≲ 0.35 in GAMA is in reasonable agreement with that found in the SDSS despite the difference in the luminosity range probed.

Conclusions. In view of the significant variations of the MMR brought about by reasonable changes in the sample selection criteria and method, we recommend that care be taken when comparing the MMR from different surveys and studies directly. We also conclude that there could be a modest level of evolution over 0.06 ≤ z ≤ 0.35 within the GAMA sample.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	A29
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	547
Early online date	31 Oct 2012
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220050
Publication status	Published - Nov 2012

Keywords

galaxies: abundances
galaxies: fundamental parameters
galaxies: star formation
galaxies: statistics

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10.1051/0004-6361/201220050

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Foster, C., Hopkins, A. M., Gunawardhana, M., Lara-Lopez, M. A., Sharp, R. G., Steele, O., Taylor, E. N., Driver, S. P., Baldry, I. K., Bamford, S. P., Liske, J., Loveday, J., Norberg, P., Peacock, J. A., Alpaslan, M., Bauer, A. E., Bland-Hawthorn, J., Brough, S., Cameron, E., ... Wijesinghe, D. B. (2012). Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 547, A29. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220050

@article{3ce05346129544d7bbc65c540f349c8c,

title = "Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship",

abstract = "Context. The mass-metallicity relationship (MMR) of star-forming galaxies is well-established, however there is still some disagreement with respect to its exact shape and its possible dependence on other observables.Aims. We measure the MMR in the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. We compare our measured MMR to that measured in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and study the dependence of the MMR on various selection criteria to identify potential causes for disparities seen in the literature.Methods. We use strong emission line ratio diagnostics to derive oxygen abundances. We then apply a range of selection criteria for the minimum signal-to-noise in various emission lines, as well as the apparent and absolute magnitude to study variations in the inferred MMR.Results. The shape and position of the MMR can differ significantly depending on the metallicity calibration and selection used. After selecting a robust metallicity calibration amongst those tested, we find that the mass-metallicity relation for redshifts 0.061 ≲ z ≲ 0.35 in GAMA is in reasonable agreement with that found in the SDSS despite the difference in the luminosity range probed.Conclusions. In view of the significant variations of the MMR brought about by reasonable changes in the sample selection criteria and method, we recommend that care be taken when comparing the MMR from different surveys and studies directly. We also conclude that there could be a modest level of evolution over 0.06 ≤ z ≤ 0.35 within the GAMA sample.",

keywords = "galaxies: abundances, galaxies: fundamental parameters, galaxies: star formation, galaxies: statistics",

author = "C. Foster and Hopkins, {Andrew M.} and Madusha Gunawardhana and Lara-Lopez, {M. A.} and Sharp, {Robert G.} and Oliver Steele and Taylor, {Edward N.} and Driver, {Simon P.} and Baldry, {Ivan K.} and Bamford, {Steven P.} and Jochen Liske and Jon Loveday and Peder Norberg and Peacock, {John A.} and Mehmet Alpaslan and Bauer, {A. E.} and Joss Bland-Hawthorn and Sarah Brough and Ewan Cameron and Matthew Colless and Conselice, {Christopher J.} and Croom, {Scott M.} and Frenk, {Carlos S.} and Hill, {David T.} and Jones, {David Heath} and Kelvin, {Lee S.} and Konrad Kuijken and Nichol, {Robert C.} and Owers, {M. S.} and Parkinson, {Hannah R.} and Pimbblet, {Kevin A.} and Popescu, {Cristina C.} and Matthew Prescott and Robotham, {Aaron S. G.} and Lopez-Sanchez, {Angel R.} and Sutherland, {Will J.} and Daniel Thomas and Tuffs, {Richard J.} and {Van Kampen}, Eelco and Wijesinghe, {D. B.}",

year = "2012",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201220050",

language = "English",

volume = "547",

pages = "A29",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Foster, C, Hopkins, AM, Gunawardhana, M, Lara-Lopez, MA, Sharp, RG, Steele, O, Taylor, EN, Driver, SP, Baldry, IK, Bamford, SP, Liske, J, Loveday, J, Norberg, P, Peacock, JA, Alpaslan, M, Bauer, AE, Bland-Hawthorn, J, Brough, S, Cameron, E, Colless, M, Conselice, CJ, Croom, SM, Frenk, CS, Hill, DT, Jones, DH, Kelvin, LS, Kuijken, K, Nichol, RC, Owers, MS, Parkinson, HR, Pimbblet, KA, Popescu, CC, Prescott, M, Robotham, ASG, Lopez-Sanchez, AR, Sutherland, WJ, Thomas, D, Tuffs, RJ, Van Kampen, E & Wijesinghe, DB 2012, 'Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 547, pp. A29. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220050

TY - JOUR

T1 - Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA)

T2 - the mass-metallicity relationship

AU - Foster, C.

AU - Hopkins, Andrew M.

AU - Gunawardhana, Madusha

AU - Lara-Lopez, M. A.

AU - Sharp, Robert G.

AU - Steele, Oliver

AU - Taylor, Edward N.

AU - Driver, Simon P.

AU - Baldry, Ivan K.

AU - Bamford, Steven P.

AU - Liske, Jochen

AU - Loveday, Jon

AU - Norberg, Peder

AU - Peacock, John A.

AU - Alpaslan, Mehmet

AU - Bauer, A. E.

AU - Bland-Hawthorn, Joss

AU - Brough, Sarah

AU - Cameron, Ewan

AU - Colless, Matthew

AU - Conselice, Christopher J.

AU - Croom, Scott M.

AU - Frenk, Carlos S.

AU - Hill, David T.

AU - Jones, David Heath

AU - Kelvin, Lee S.

AU - Kuijken, Konrad

AU - Nichol, Robert C.

AU - Owers, M. S.

AU - Parkinson, Hannah R.

AU - Pimbblet, Kevin A.

AU - Popescu, Cristina C.

AU - Prescott, Matthew

AU - Robotham, Aaron S. G.

AU - Lopez-Sanchez, Angel R.

AU - Sutherland, Will J.

AU - Thomas, Daniel

AU - Tuffs, Richard J.

AU - Van Kampen, Eelco

AU - Wijesinghe, D. B.

PY - 2012/11

Y1 - 2012/11

N2 - Context. The mass-metallicity relationship (MMR) of star-forming galaxies is well-established, however there is still some disagreement with respect to its exact shape and its possible dependence on other observables.Aims. We measure the MMR in the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. We compare our measured MMR to that measured in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and study the dependence of the MMR on various selection criteria to identify potential causes for disparities seen in the literature.Methods. We use strong emission line ratio diagnostics to derive oxygen abundances. We then apply a range of selection criteria for the minimum signal-to-noise in various emission lines, as well as the apparent and absolute magnitude to study variations in the inferred MMR.Results. The shape and position of the MMR can differ significantly depending on the metallicity calibration and selection used. After selecting a robust metallicity calibration amongst those tested, we find that the mass-metallicity relation for redshifts 0.061 ≲ z ≲ 0.35 in GAMA is in reasonable agreement with that found in the SDSS despite the difference in the luminosity range probed.Conclusions. In view of the significant variations of the MMR brought about by reasonable changes in the sample selection criteria and method, we recommend that care be taken when comparing the MMR from different surveys and studies directly. We also conclude that there could be a modest level of evolution over 0.06 ≤ z ≤ 0.35 within the GAMA sample.

AB - Context. The mass-metallicity relationship (MMR) of star-forming galaxies is well-established, however there is still some disagreement with respect to its exact shape and its possible dependence on other observables.Aims. We measure the MMR in the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. We compare our measured MMR to that measured in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and study the dependence of the MMR on various selection criteria to identify potential causes for disparities seen in the literature.Methods. We use strong emission line ratio diagnostics to derive oxygen abundances. We then apply a range of selection criteria for the minimum signal-to-noise in various emission lines, as well as the apparent and absolute magnitude to study variations in the inferred MMR.Results. The shape and position of the MMR can differ significantly depending on the metallicity calibration and selection used. After selecting a robust metallicity calibration amongst those tested, we find that the mass-metallicity relation for redshifts 0.061 ≲ z ≲ 0.35 in GAMA is in reasonable agreement with that found in the SDSS despite the difference in the luminosity range probed.Conclusions. In view of the significant variations of the MMR brought about by reasonable changes in the sample selection criteria and method, we recommend that care be taken when comparing the MMR from different surveys and studies directly. We also conclude that there could be a modest level of evolution over 0.06 ≤ z ≤ 0.35 within the GAMA sample.

KW - galaxies: abundances

KW - galaxies: fundamental parameters

KW - galaxies: star formation

KW - galaxies: statistics

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220050

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220050

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 547

SP - A29

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

ER -

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship

Abstract

Keywords

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