Post-Starburst Populations Near and Far - The Potential of Near-IR Spectroscopy
Abstract
Description
The efficient use of near-IR data in studies of external stellar populations depends on our ability to recognize the nature of the predominant sources of light, and to interprete these findings in terms of age and metallicity. Here we focus on elderly post-starburst populations, with ages of 0.1-1 Gyr. New models confirm that they are indeed expected to display specific spectral signatures in the near-IR, due to variable M stars of the asymptotic giant branch and to carbon stars. The signatures depend on age and metallicity. We summarize the status of current quantitative predictions and emphasize the importance of an empirical calibration of the spectral synthesis models.
6 pages, LaTeX (uses svmult.cls and the graphicx package). Includes 6 figures. To be published in the proceedings of the Ringberg Workshop on Starbursts Near and Far, held in Sept.2000 (Ed. L.J.Tacconi and D. Lutz)
6 pages, LaTeX (uses svmult.cls and the graphicx package). Includes 6 figures. To be published in the proceedings of the Ringberg Workshop on Starbursts Near and Far, held in Sept.2000 (Ed. L.J.Tacconi and D. Lutz)