More fundamental than the fundamental metallicity relation: The effect of the stellar metallicity on the gas-phase mass-metallicity and gravitational potential-metallicity relations

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Main Authors: Sánchez-Menguiano, Laura, Sánchez, Sebastián F., Almeida, Jorge Sánchez, Muñoz-Tuñón, Casiana
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Sánchez-Menguiano, Laura
Sánchez, Sebastián F.
Almeida, Jorge Sánchez
Muñoz-Tuñón, Casiana
author_facet Sánchez-Menguiano, Laura
Sánchez, Sebastián F.
Almeida, Jorge Sánchez
Muñoz-Tuñón, Casiana
contents Context. One of the most fundamental scaling relations in galaxies is observed between metallicity and stellar mass -- the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) -- although recently a stronger dependence of the gas-phase metallicity with the galactic gravitational potential ($Φ\rm ZR$) has been reported. Further dependences of metallicity on other galaxy properties have been revealed, with the star formation rate (SFR) being one of the most studied and debated secondary parameters in the relation (the so-called fundamental metallicity relation). Aims. In this work we explore the dependence of the gas-phase metallicity residuals from the MZR and $Φ\rm ZR$ on different galaxy properties in the search for the most fundamental scaling relation in galaxies. Methods. We applied a random forest regressor algorithm on a sample of 3430 nearby star-forming galaxies from the SDSS-IV MaNGA survey. Using this technique, we explored the effect of 147 additional parameters on the global oxygen abundance residuals obtained after subtracting the MZR. Alternatively, we followed a similar approach with the metallicity residuals from the $Φ\rm ZR$. Results. The stellar metallicity of the galaxy is revealed as the secondary parameter in both the MZR and the $Φ\rm ZR$, ahead of the SFR. This parameter reduces the scatter in the relations $\sim 10-15\%$. We find the 3D relation between gravitational potential, gas metallicity, and stellar metallicity to be the most fundamental metallicity relation observed in galaxies.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_01222
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle More fundamental than the fundamental metallicity relation: The effect of the stellar metallicity on the gas-phase mass-metallicity and gravitational potential-metallicity relations
Sánchez-Menguiano, Laura
Sánchez, Sebastián F.
Almeida, Jorge Sánchez
Muñoz-Tuñón, Casiana
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Context. One of the most fundamental scaling relations in galaxies is observed between metallicity and stellar mass -- the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) -- although recently a stronger dependence of the gas-phase metallicity with the galactic gravitational potential ($Φ\rm ZR$) has been reported. Further dependences of metallicity on other galaxy properties have been revealed, with the star formation rate (SFR) being one of the most studied and debated secondary parameters in the relation (the so-called fundamental metallicity relation). Aims. In this work we explore the dependence of the gas-phase metallicity residuals from the MZR and $Φ\rm ZR$ on different galaxy properties in the search for the most fundamental scaling relation in galaxies. Methods. We applied a random forest regressor algorithm on a sample of 3430 nearby star-forming galaxies from the SDSS-IV MaNGA survey. Using this technique, we explored the effect of 147 additional parameters on the global oxygen abundance residuals obtained after subtracting the MZR. Alternatively, we followed a similar approach with the metallicity residuals from the $Φ\rm ZR$. Results. The stellar metallicity of the galaxy is revealed as the secondary parameter in both the MZR and the $Φ\rm ZR$, ahead of the SFR. This parameter reduces the scatter in the relations $\sim 10-15\%$. We find the 3D relation between gravitational potential, gas metallicity, and stellar metallicity to be the most fundamental metallicity relation observed in galaxies.
title More fundamental than the fundamental metallicity relation: The effect of the stellar metallicity on the gas-phase mass-metallicity and gravitational potential-metallicity relations
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.01222