Population Synthesis and the Ultraviolet Spectrum of Elliptical Galaxies

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

33

Galaxies: Evolution, Galaxies: Stellar Content, Stars: Evolution, Ultraviolet: Galaxies

Scientific paper

We enlarge the library of stellar evolutionary tracks compiled by Charlot & Bruzual to include a more detailed treatment of the post-asymptotic giant branch (PAGB) evolution of solar metallicity stars. The resulting set of tracks depends on the assumed relation M∫(Mi) between the zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) mass of a star, Mi, and its mass M∫ at the end of the AGB. The isochrone synthesis spectral evolution code of Bruzual & Charlot has been used to study the possible stellar sources of the UV flux observed in elliptical galaxies, exploring the effects on the models of assuming different M∫(Mi) relations. We adopt the semiempirical relation determined by Weidemann to build the models used in this investigation. The main conclusions of our work do not depend on the adopted M∫(Mi). The UV spectra of M32, NGC 4472, NGC 3379, and NGC 4649 are examined. We conclude that whereas NGC 4472 and NGC 3379 have a UV spectrum which is consistent with that produced by a passively evolving old stellar population of solar metallicity, M32 shows definite spectral evidence that a recent major event of star formation took place in this galaxy close to 4 Gyr ago. The spectrum of NGC 4649 cannot be understood unless we assume that star formation (in minor amounts) has been going on in this galaxy until recent epochs, or that a UV bright stellar component is missing in our synthesis. Our models provide a lower limit to the total UV output from stellar populations dominated by solar metallicity stars.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Population Synthesis and the Ultraviolet Spectrum of Elliptical 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 Population Synthesis and the Ultraviolet Spectrum of Elliptical Galaxies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Population Synthesis and the Ultraviolet Spectrum of Elliptical Galaxies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-808125

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.