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Title:
The Dearth of UV-Bright Stars in M32: Implications for Stellar Evolution Theory
Authors:
Brown, Thomas M.; Smith, Ed; Ferguson, Henry C.; Sweigart, Allen V.; Kimble, Randy A.; Bowers, Charles W.
Affiliation:
AA(Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218; , , ), AB(Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218; , , ), AC(Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218; , , ), AD(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 667, Greenbelt, MD 20771; , , ), AE(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 667, Greenbelt, MD 20771; , , ), AF(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 667, Greenbelt, MD 20771; , , )
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 682, Issue 1, pp. 319-335. (ApJ Homepage)
Publication Date:
07/2008
Origin:
UCP
ApJ Keywords:
Galaxies: Evolution, Galaxies: Individual: Messier Number: M32, Galaxies: Stellar Content, Stars: Evolution, Stars: Horizontal-Branch
Abstract Copyright:
(c) 2008: The American Astronomical Society
DOI:
10.1086/589611
Bibliographic Code:
2008ApJ...682..319B

Abstract

Using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope, we have obtained deep, far-ultraviolet images of the compact elliptical galaxy M32. When combined with earlier near-ultraviolet images of the same field, these data enable the construction of an ultraviolet color-magnitude diagram of the hot horizontal branch (HB) population and other hot stars in late phases of stellar evolution. We find few post-asymptotic giant branch (PAGB) stars in the galaxy, implying that these stars either cross the H-R diagram more rapidly than expected, and/or that they spend a significant fraction of their time enshrouded in circumstellar material. The predicted luminosity gap between the hot HB and its AGB-manqué (AGBM) progeny is less pronounced than expected, especially when compared to evolutionary tracks with enhanced helium abundances, implying that the presence of hot HB stars in this metal-rich population is not due to ΔY/ΔZ>~4. Only a small fraction (~2%) of the HB population is hot enough to produce significant UV emission, yet most of the UV emission in this galaxy comes from the hot HB and AGBM stars, implying that PAGB stars are not a significant source of UV emission, even in those elliptical galaxies with a weak UV excess.

Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at STScI, and associated with proposal 9053.

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