W. J. Maciel -
Abstract #154
RADIAL ABUNDANCE GRADIENTS IN THE GALACTIC DISK: OBSERVATIONS AND THEORY
W. J. Maciel
Proc. XX SAB Meeting, ed. B. Barbuy, N. V. Leister, J. Braga, 113 (1996)
The radial abundance gradients observed in the disks of the Galaxy and other spiral galaxies are reviewed, in the context of the chemical evolution of these galaxies. A detailed account is given of the main observational evidences for the gradients, both in the Galaxy and other galaxies, on the basis of observations of HII regions, planetary nebulae, and stars. The origin of the gradients is discussed according to the main physical processes proposed so far. The so-called "simple model" is involved in order to obtain some physical insight on the origin of the gradients.
