How galaxies disguise their ages |
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| Authors: | Roberto De Propris |
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| Institution: | School of Physics, Department of Astronomy &Optics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia |
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| Abstract: | We calculate the contribution to Balmer line indices from far ultraviolet component sources. We find that this is significant, and may lead to identification of spurious age differences of the order of a total span of ∼6 Gyr or ∼15 per cent size bursts observed a few Gyr after star formation stops. We suggest that claims for intermediate-age populations in early-type galaxies may need to be reconsidered in the light of this new evidence. |
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| Keywords: | galaxies: evolution galaxies: stellar content |
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