On The Cosmic Origins Of Carbon & Nitrogen

Abstract

We employ analytical and numerical chemical evolution models to study observed trends in abundance ratios involving carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Several sets of published stellar yields for both intermediate-mass and massive stars are considered, and the most appropriate sets are selected through the use of analytical models. These yields are then used in the numerical models to match observed data trends in C/O, N/O, and O/H. We conclude that the principal production site for carbon is massive stars, while that for nitrogen is intermediate-mass stars.

3 pages, to appear in the proceedings of ``Cosmic Evolution'', held at Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, November 13-17, 2000