HII-chi-mistry-IR. Abundances

Using grids of photo-ionisation models that cover a wide range in O/H and N/O abundances, and ionisation parameter, our code HII-CHI-MISTRY-IR (HCm-IR) provides model-based abundances based on extinction free and temperature insensitive tracers, two significant advantages over optical diagnostics.

The code is probed using a sample of 56 galaxies observed with Spitzer and Herschel covering a wide range in metallicity, 7.2~<12+log(O/H)~<8.9. The IR model-based metallicities obtained are robust within a scatter of 0.03dex when the hydrogen recombination lines, which are typically faint transitions in the IR range, are not available. When compared to the optical abundances obtained with the direct method,model- based methods, and strong-line calibrations, HCm-IR estimates show a typical dispersion of ~0.2dex, in line with previous studies comparing IR and optical abundances, a do not introduce a noticeable systematic above 12+log(O/H)>7.6.