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| Paper: |
Integrated Properties of AGB Stars in Resolved and Unresolved Stellar Populations: Simple Stellar Populations and Star Clusters |
| Volume: |
445, Why Galaxies Care about AGB Stars II: Shining Examples and Common Inhabitants |
| Page: |
379 |
| Authors: |
Lançon, A. |
| Abstract: |
The evolution of AGB stars is notoriously complex. The confrontation
of AGB population models with observed stellar populations is a useful
alternative to the detailed study of individual stars in efforts to
converge towards a reliable evolution theory. I review here the impact
of studies of star clusters on AGB models and AGB population synthesis,
deliberately leaving out any more complex stellar populations. Over the
last 10 years, despite much effort, the absolute uncertainties in the
predictions of the light emitted by intermediate-age populations have
not been reduced to a satisfactory level. Observational sample
definitions, as well as the combination of the natural variance in AGB
properties with small number statistics, are largely responsible for
this situation. There is hope that the constraints may soon become
strong enough, thanks to large unbiased surveys of star clusters,
resolved colour-magnitude diagrams, and new analysis methods that can
account for the stochastic nature of AGB populations in clusters. |
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