Issue |
Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.
Volume 132, Number 1, October I 1998
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 133 - 143 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/aas:1998363 | |
Published online | 15 October 1998 |
Stellar population synthesis diagnostics
Padova Astronomical Observatoy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, I-35122 Padua, Italy
Received:
4
November
1997
Accepted:
27
March
1998
A quantitative method is presented to compare
observed and synthetic colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs).
The method is based on a merit function for a point
in the observed CMD, which has a
corresponding point in the simulated CMD
within
of the error ellipse.
The
merit function is then combined
with the Poisson merit function of the points for which
no corresponding point was found within the
error ellipse boundary.
Monte-Carlo simulations are presented to demonstrate
the diagnostics obtained from the
combined (
, Poisson) merit function through
variation of different parameters in the stellar population synthesis tool.
The simulations indicate that the merit function can
potentially be used to reveal information about the initial mass function.
Information about the star formation history of single stellar
aggregates, such as open or globular clusters
and possibly dwarf galaxies
with a dominating stellar population,
might not be reliable if one is dealing with a relatively small
age range.
Key words: methods: data analysis, numerical / stars: HR-diagram, statistics
© European Southern Observatory (ESO), 1998