GES N/O abundance ratio in the Milky Way

With our samples, we map the metallicity range -0.6<=[Fe/H]<=0.3 with a corresponding -1.2<=log(N/O)<=-0.2, where the secondary production of N dominates. Thanks to the wide range of Galactocentric distances covered by our samples, we can distinguish the behaviour of log(N/O) in different parts of the Galaxy. Our spatially resolved results allow us to distinguish differences in the evolution of N/O with Galactocentric radius.

Comparing the data with our models, we can characterise the radial regions of our Galaxy. A shorter infall timescale is needed in the inner regions, while the outer regions need a longer infall timescale, coupled with a higher star formation efficiency. We compare our results with nebular abundances obtained in MaNGA galaxies, finding in our Galaxy a much wider range of log(N/O) than in integrated observations of external galaxies of similar stellar mass, but similar to the ranges found in studies of individual HII regions.