SPECTROSCOPIC EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS MODELS OF WOLF-RAYET GALAXIES

Authors
KRUGER H ALVENSLEBEN UFV FRICKE KJ LOOSE HH
Citation
H. Kruger et al., SPECTROSCOPIC EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS MODELS OF WOLF-RAYET GALAXIES, Astrophysics and space science, 205(1), 1993, pp. 57-63
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
Astrophysics and space science → ACNP
ISSN journal
0004640X
Volume
205
Issue
1
Year of publication
1993
Pages
57 - 63
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-640X(1993)205:1<57:SESMOW>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
We present spectroscopic evolutionary synthesis calculations for starb urst galaxies of various metallicities in order to model the broad emi ssion lines HeII lambda4686 and CIII lambda4650 produced by Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the spectra of WR galaxies. The strengths of both lines strongly decrease with decreasing metallicity. The presence of WR emi ssion features is a clear indicator of very recent star formation less than 4 to 7 x 10(6) yr ago. Bursts of duration 1 to 5 x 10(6) yr whic h lead to an increase in the total stellar mass in the galaxy by 0.1 t o 10 % are compatible with the equivalent width of HeII lambda4686 obs erved in WR galaxies.