| |
 |
| Paper: |
Stellar luminosity functions as probes of star formation history |
| Volume: |
13, The Formation and Evolution of Star Clusters |
| Page: |
161 |
| Authors: |
Mighell, Kenneth J. |
| Abstract: |
The star formation histories of galaxies and globular clusters can be derived from their stellar luminosity functions. The simple star formation history of an intermediate-age single-burst single-metallicity stellar population can be determined with an age resolution of 20 percent using a stellar luminosity function that has 2000-4000 stars in the range 1.2-4.8 mag and bin widths of 0.2 mag. More complicated star formation histories or older stellar populations will require more stars to minimize interpretation problems caused by the metallicity-age-distance degeneracy. The apparent distance modulus of an intermediate-age stellar population can be accurately determined with stellar luminosity function fitting, independent of its star formation history. |
|
|
|
|
|
