Abstract
The majority of the heavy elements produced by stars 2 billion years after the big bang (redshift z ≈ 3) are presently undetected at those epochs. We propose a solution to this cosmic "missing metals" problem in which such elements are stored in gaseous halos produced by supernova explosions around star-forming galaxies. By using data from the ESO VLT Large Program, we find that (1) only 5%-9% of the produced metals reside in the cold phase, the rest being found in the hot (T = 105.8-106. 4 K) phase, and (2) 1%-6% (3%-30%) of the observed C IV (O VI) is in the hot phase. We conclude that at z ≳ 3, more than 90% of the metals produced during the star formation history can be placed in a hot phase of the intergalactic medium (IGM), without violating any observational constraint. The observed galaxy mass-metallicity relation and the IGM and intracluster medium metallicity evolution are also naturally explained by this hypothesis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | L37-L40 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 634 |
Issue number | 1 II |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 20 2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Galaxies: stellar content
- Intergalactic medium
- Stars: early-type
- Supernovae: general
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science