1998/12/16 by Francesca Matteucci, F. Matteuccí, Cristina Chiappini +3
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/9812315
10 pages, invited review, ESO Conference "Chemical Evolution from Zero to High Redshift", held in Garching in October 1998
arxiv created 1998/12/16 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We review the observational evidences and the possible theoretical explanations for the abundance gradients in the Galactic disk. In particular, we discuss the implications of abundance gradients and gradients of abundance ratios on the mechanism for the formation of the Galaxy. We conclude that an \bf inside-out formation of the Galaxy, and in particular of the Galactic disk, where the innermost regions are assumed to have formed much faster than the outermost ones, represents the most likely explanation for abundance gradients and we predict that the abundance gradients along the Galactic disk have increased with time.