Related papers: A possible solution to the [alpha/Fe]-sigma proble…
(Abridged) The abundance ratios between key elements such as iron and alpha-process elements carry a wealth of information on the star formation history (SFH) of galaxies. So far, simple chemical evolution models have linked [alpha/Fe] with…
Massive early-type galaxies have higher metallicities and higher ratios of $\alpha$ elements to iron than their less massive counterparts. Reproducing these correlations has long been a problem for hierarchical galaxy formation theory, both…
We study the origin of the stellar $\alpha$-element-to-iron abundance ratio, $[\alpha/\mathrm{Fe}]_{\ast}$, of present-day central galaxies, using cosmological, hydrodynamical simulations from the Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and…
In models of galaxy formation in a hierarchical Universe, elliptical galaxies form through the merging of smaller disk systems. These models yield a number of testable predictions if reliable techniques for determining the relative ages and…
It is well established that the [alpha/Fe] ratios in elliptical galaxies increase with galaxy mass. This relation holds also for early-type dwarf galaxies, although it seems to steepen at low masses. The [alpha/Fe] vs. mass relation can be…
We compute new population synthesis models of Lick absorption line indices with variable alpha/Fe ratios and use them to derive average ages, metallicities, and alpha/Fe element enhancements for a sample of 126 field and cluster early-type…
The alpha element to iron peak element ratio, for example [Mg/Fe], is a commonly applied indicator of the galaxy star formation timescale (SFT) since the two groups of elements are mainly produced by different types of supernovae that…
Observations of nearby massive galaxies have revealed that they are older and richer in metals and magnesium than their low-mass counterparts. In particular, the overabundance of magnesium compared to iron, [Mg/Fe], is interpreted to…
The mean alpha-to-iron abundance ratio ([$\alpha$/Fe]) of galaxies is sensitive to the chemical evolution processes at early time, and it is an indicator of star formation timescale ($\tau_{{\rm SF}}$). Although the physical reason remains…
The ratio of $\alpha$-elements to iron in galaxies holds valuable information about the star formation history since their enrichment occurs on different timescales. The fossil record of stars in galaxies has mostly been excavated for…
The overabundance of Mg relative to Fe, observed in the nuclei of bright ellipticals, and its increase with galactic mass, poses a serious problem for all current models of galaxy formation. Here we improve on the one-zone chemical…
I discuss the formation of alpha-enhanced metal-rich stellar populations in the nuclei of luminous ellipticals. Based on hierarchical clustering, different galaxy formation scenarios, which imply different star formation histories, are…
The aim of this paper is to set constraints of the epochs of early-type galaxy formation through the 'archaeology' of the stellar populations in local galaxies. Using our models of absorption line indices that account for variable abundance…
Unlike spiral galaxies such as the Milky Way, the majority of the stars in massive elliptical galaxies were formed in a short period early in the history of the Universe. The duration of this formation period can be measured using the ratio…
Due to their different nucleosynthetic origin, a stellar population produces oxygen (O) and iron (Fe) on different timescales and their relative abundance can deviate strongly from solar. Galaxy formation models should treat these elements…
The correlation between [Mg/Fe] and galaxy mass found in elliptical galaxies sets a strong constraint on the duration of star formation. Furthermore, the colour-magnitude relation restricts the range of ages and metallicities of the stellar…
Early-type galaxies (ETGs) are known to be enhanced in alpha elements, in accordance with their old ages and short formation timescales. In this contribution we aim to resolve the enrichment histories of ETGs. This means we study the…
We study how the predicted [$\alpha$/Fe]-[Fe/H] relations in early-type galaxies vary as functions of their stellar masses, ages and stellar velocity dispersions, by making use of cosmological chemodynamical simulations with feedback from…
The supernova yields of several heavy elements including alpha-, iron-group, and r-process elements are obtained as a function of the mass of their progenitor main-sequence stars M_ms from the abundance patterns of extremely metal-poor…
The processes governing both the formation and evolution of elliptical galaxies are discussed by means of a new multi-zone photo-chemical evolution model for elliptical galaxies, taking into account detailed nucleosynthetic yields, feedback…