Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies -- young or old?

Computer Science

Scientific paper

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Hst Proposal Id #7859 Galaxies

Scientific paper

Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies {BCDs} challenge models of galaxy formation to explain the presence of small, low-metallicity galaxies experiencing vigorous bursts of star formation. Are BCDs examples of modern-day galaxy formation? Are they related to the mysterious faint blue excess? Crucial in distinguishing models is the age of the oldest stars in BCDs. Previous ground-based data, lacking spatial resolution, have failed to detect individual old stars in BCDs. Previous HST observations have focussed on extreme objects such as I Zw 18, too distant for even HST to resolve all but luminous star clusters and a few of the most massive young stars. With this proposal we demonstrate that HST CAN RESOLVE in THE MOST NEARBY BCDs stars with ages of a large fraction of the Hubble time. We propose to take advantage of the unique capabilities of high spatial resolution and IR-sensitivity of NICMOS to search for old stellar populations in 5 BCDs, a small but representative sample covering the range of properties found in BCDs. NIC2 J, J-H color-magnitude diagrams will be used to find the tip of the red giant branch, which we show is well above the detection limit, and which is an indicator for stars with ages > 7 Gyrs. Furthermore, the magnitude of the tip of the red giant branch will provide the best current distances to these nearby BCDs, allowing improved modelling of velocity flows and dark matter in the local universe.

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