New optical and near-infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations models. A primary distance indicator ranging from Globular Clusters to distant galaxies?

Details New optical and near-infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations models. A primary distance indicator ranging from Globular Clusters to distant galaxies? New optical and near-infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations models. A primary distance indicator ranging from Globular Clusters to distant galaxies?

2003-03-14

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0303325v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

AJ accepted, 46 pages, 21 figures, 10 tables, uses aastex.cls

Scientific paper

10.1086/375322

We present new theoretical models for Surface Brightness Fluctuations (SBF) both for optical and near-infrared bands in standard ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope filter systems. Simple Stellar Population simulations are adopted. Models cover the age and metallicity ranges from $t=5$ to $15~Gyr$ and from $Z=0.0001$ to 0.04 respectively. Effects due to the variation of the Initial Mass Function and the stellar color-temperature relations are explored. Particular attention is devoted to very bright stars in the color-magnitude diagram and to investigate the effects of mass loss along the Red Giant Branch (RGB) and the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB). It is found that $U$ and $B$ bands SBF amplitudes are powerful diagnostics for the morphology of the Horizontal Branch and the Post-AGB stars population. We point out that a careful treatment of mass loss process along the RGB and AGB is fundamental in determining reliable SBF evaluations. The SBF measurements are used to give robust constraints on the evolution of AGB stars, suggesting that mass loss activity on AGB stars should be twice more efficient than on the RGB stars. Our models are able to reproduce the absolute SBF magnitudes of the Galactic Globular Clusters and of galaxies, and their integrated colors. New calibrations of absolute SBF magnitude in $V$, $R$, $I$, and $K$ photometric filters are provided, which appear reliable enough to directly gauge distances bypassing other distance indicators. The SBF technique is also used as stellar population tracer to derive age and metallicity of a selected sample of galaxies of known distances. Finally, {\it SBF color} versus {\it integrated color} diagrams are proposed as particularly useful in removing the well known {\it age-metallicity degeneracy} affecting our knowledge of remote stellar systems.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

New optical and near-infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations models. A primary distance indicator ranging from Globular Clusters to distant galaxies? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with New optical and near-infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations models. A primary distance indicator ranging from Globular Clusters to distant galaxies?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and New optical and near-infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations models. A primary distance indicator ranging from Globular Clusters to distant galaxies? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-292645