AAS 207th Meeting, 8-12 January 2006
Session 42 Element and Stellar Evolution
Oral, Monday, 10:00-11:30am, January 9, 2006, Wilson A/B

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[42.06] Implications for Galaxy Formation in Clusters and the Field from the Chemical Evolution of Iron

M. Loewenstein (NASA/GSFC and UMD-College Park)

I present models for the coupled mass density and Fe abundance evolution of stars, interstellar gas, and intergalactic gas in rich galaxy clusters and in the field. Significant joint constraints on Type II and Type Ia (SNIa) supernova yields, SNIa delay times, the initial mass function (IMF), cluster galaxy star formation history, and the strength and duration of galactic outflows, in these distinct environments emerge from a comparison of model results with the observed evolution of Fe abundances and Type Ia supernova rates. Significant differences in clusters and the field are inferred. A top-heavy IMF and relatively high star formation efficiency is required in clusters, and the existence of two star formation modes with distinct IMFs and SNIa characteristics are implied.


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