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Nebular abundances in galaxies: Beware of biases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2010

Grażyna Stasińska*
Affiliation:
LUTH, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot; Place Jules Janssen 92190 Meudon, France email: grazyna.stasinska@obspm.fr
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Abstract

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The derivation of nebular abundances in galaxies using strong line methods is simple and quick. Various indices have been designed and calibrated for this purpose, and they are widely used. However, abundances derived with such methods may be significantly biased, if the objects under study have different structural properties (hardness of the ionizing radiation field, morphology of the nebulae) than those used to calibrate the methods. Special caution is required when comparing the metallicities of different samples, like, for example, blue compact galaxies and other emission line dwarf galaxies, or samples at different redshifts.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010

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