The Prompt Inventory from Very Massive Stars and Elemental Abundances in Ly Alpha Systems

Abstract

It has been proposed that very massive stars (VMSs) dominated heavy element production until a metallicity threshold corresponding to [Fe/H]=-3 was reached. This results in a prompt (P) inventory of elements, the abundances of which were determined from observations of Galactic halo stars with [Fe/H]=-3. We calculate Omega_P(E) from the P inventory for a large number of elements in the IGM. Using the available data on Omega(E_ion) for C IV, O VI, and Si IV in Ly alpha systems, we find that the ionization fractions calculated from Omega(E_ion)/Omega_P(E) are, within reasonable uncertainties, compatible with the values estimated from ionization models for Ly alpha systems. This agreement appears to hold from z=0.09 to 4.6, indicating that the bulk of the baryonic matter remains dispersed with a fixed chemical composition. We conclude that the P inventory was established in the epoch prior to z=4.6. The dispersal of processed baryonic matter to the general IGM is considered to be the result of energetic VMS explosions that disrupted baryonic aggregates until the metallicity threshold was reached to permit normal astration. The formation of most galaxies is considered to have occurred subsequent to the achievement of this metallicity threshold in the IGM.

11 pages, to appear in ApJL

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