Bibcode
DOI
Urbaneja, M. A.; Herrero, A.; Kudritzki, R.-P.; Najarro, F.; Smartt, S. J.; Puls, J.; Lennon, D. J.; Corral, L. J.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 635, Issue 1, pp. 311-335.
Advertised on:
12
2005
Journal
Citations
81
Refereed citations
64
Description
We present the detailed spectral analysis of a sample of M33 B-type
supergiant stars, aimed at the determination of their fundamental
parameters and chemical composition. The analysis is based on a grid of
non-LTE metal line-blanketed model atmospheres including the effects of
stellar winds and spherical extension computed with the code FASTWIND.
Surface abundance ratios of C, N, and O are used to discuss the chemical
evolutionary status of each individual star. The comparison of observed
stellar properties with theoretical predictions of massive star
evolutionary models shows good agreement within the uncertainties of the
analysis. The spatial distribution of the sample allows us to
investigate the existence of radial abundance gradients in the disk of
M33. The comparison of stellar and H II region O abundances (based on
direct determinations of the electron temperature of the nebulae) shows
good agreement. Using a simple linear radial representation, the stellar
oxygen abundances result in a gradient of -0.0145+/-0.005 dex
arcmin-1 (or -0.06+/-0.02 dex kpc-1) up to a
distance equal to ~1.1 times the isophotal radius of the galaxy. A more
complex representation cannot be completely discarded by our stellar
sample. The stellar Mg and Si abundances follow the trend displayed by O
abundances, although with shallower gradients. These differences in
gradient slope cannot be explained at this point. The derived abundances
of the three α-elements yield solar metallicity in the central
regions of the disk of M33. A comparison with recent planetary nebula
data from Magrini and coworkers indicates that the disk of M33 has not
suffered from a significant O enrichment in the last 3 Gyr.
The WHT is operated on the island of La Palma by the ING in the Spanish
Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de
Astrofísica de Canarias.
Some of the data presented herein were obtained at the W. M. Keck
Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the
California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was
made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck
Foundation.