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| Paper: |
The Contribution of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars to the
Infrared Luminosities of Galaxies |
| Volume: |
445, Why Galaxies Care about AGB Stars II: Shining Examples and Common Inhabitants |
| Page: |
515 |
| Authors: |
Melbourne, J.; Williams, B.; Dalcanton, J.; Girardi, L.; Marigo, P. |
| Abstract: |
Using resolved stellar photometry in Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3 images of 22 nearby galaxies, we measure the fraction
of near-infrared (NIR) luminosity produced by short-lived asymptotic
giant branch (AGB) stars. While AGB stars represent a negligible
number fraction of stars in a given galaxy, they can contribute as
much as 30% of the total NIR flux, even though local galaxies have
large populations of red giant branch stars. In the early Universe,
the AGB contribution to the total IR luminosity could be as high as
80%. For younger metal-rich galaxies, the AGB models used in this
study tend to under-predict the contribution of the AGB to the
galaxy's luminosity (at NIR wavelengths). The same models tend to
over-predict the AGB for old metal-poor systems. |
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