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Stellar abundances of early-type galaxies

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 نشر من قبل Scott C. Trager
 تاريخ النشر 2006
  مجال البحث فيزياء
والبحث باللغة English
 تأليف S.C. Trager




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It is currently impossible to determine the abundances of stellar populations star-by-star in dense stellar systems more distant than a few megaparsecs. Therefore, methods to analyse the composite light of stellar systems are required. I review recent progress in determining the abundances and abundance ratios of early-type galaxies. I begin with `direct abundance measurements: colour--magnitude diagrams of and planetary nebula in nearby early-type galaxies. I then give an overview of `indirect abundance measurements: inferences from stellar population models, with an emphasis on cross-checks with `direct methods. I explore the variations of early-type galaxy abundances as a function of mass, age, and environment in the local Universe. I conclude with a list of continuing difficulties in the modelling that complicate the interpretation of integrated spectra and I look ahead to new methods and new observations.



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