Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Horizontal-Branch Stars as Sources of the UV Upturn in Early-Type Galaxies

  • Published:
Astrophysics and Space Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is now believed that the UV upturn sources in nearby early-type galaxies are horizontal-branch (HB) stars and their progeny. Recent studies have suggested that the HB temperature variation is mainly caused by age along with metallicity, which makes the UV upturn attractive as a potential age indicator for presumably the oldest populations in the universe—elliptical galaxies. However, the age explanation for HB temperature variation still has a number of hurdles to pass. Here, we summarize the pros and cons of the age hypothesis and report our recent progress in understanding of HB stars. Finally, we discuss whether it is valid to assume that the UV upturn can reliably date early-type galaxies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown T.M., et al.: 2000, ApJ 532, 308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burstein, D., Bertola, F., Buson, L.M., Faber, S.M. and Lauer, T.R.: 1988, ApJ 328, 440.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaboyer, B., Demarque, P., Kernan, P.J. and Krauss, L.M.: 1998, ApJ 494, 96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, S., Lacey, C.G., Baugh, C.M. and Frenk, C.S.: 2000, MNRAS 319, 168.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dinescu, D.I., Girard, T.M. and van Altena, W.F.: 1999, ApJ 117, 1792.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, K.C. and Bland-Hawthorn, J.: 2002, ARAA 40, 487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gratton R.G., et al.: 1997, ApJ 491, 749.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ibata, R.A., Gilmore, G. and Irwin, M.J.: 1994, Nature 370, 194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J.A. and Bolte, M.: 1998, AJ 115, 693.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kauffmann, G., White, S.D.M. and Guiderdoni, B.: 1993, MNRAS 264, 201.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunkel, W.E.: 1979, ApJ 228, 718.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y.-W., Demarque, P. and Zinn, R.: 1994, ApJ 423, 248.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee Y.-W., et al.: 1999, Nature 402, 55.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pritzl, B., Smith, H.A., Catelan, M. and Sweigart, A.V.: 2000, ApJ 530, L41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pritzl, B., Smith, H.A., Catelan, M. and Sweigart, A.V.: 2001, AJ 122, 2600.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pritzl, B., Smith, H.A., Catelan, M. and Sweigart, A.V.: 2002, AJ 124, 949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ree, C.H., Yoon, S.-J., Rey, S.-C. and Lee, Y.-W.: 2002, in: ASP Conference Series 265, 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimers, D.: 1975, in: Mem. Soc. R. Sci. Li‘ege 6 Séries 8, 369.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rey, S.-C., Yoon, S.-J., Lee, Y.-W., Chaboyer, B. and Sarajedini, A.: 2001, AJ 122, 3219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich R.M., et al.: 1997, ApJ 484, L25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rood R.T., et al.: 1993, in: ASP Conference Series 48, 218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Searle, L. and Zinn, R.: 1978, ApJ 225, 357.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stetson, P.B., VandenBerg, D.A. and Bolte, M.: 1996, PASP 108, 560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsuchiya, T., Dinescu, D.I. and Korchagin, V.I.: 2003, ApJ 589, 29.

    Google Scholar 

  • VandenBerg, D.A., Bolte, M. and Stetson, P.B.: 1990, AJ 100, 445.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yi, S., Demarque, P. and Kim, Y.-C.: 1997, ApJ 482, 677.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yi S., et al.: 1999, ApJ 513, 128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi S., et al.: 2001, ApJ 136, 417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, S.-J., Lee, C.-H. and Lee, Y.-W.: 2000, BAAS 196, 41.02.

  • Yoon, S.-J. and Lee, Y.-W.: 2002, Science 297, 578.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, S.-J., Ree, C. H. and Lee, Y.-W.: 2004, ApJ submitted.

  • Zinn, R.: 1993, in: ASP Conference Series 48, 38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astrophysics, Oxford University, Keble Road, Oxford, OX1 3RH, UK

    Suk-Jin Yoon & Sukyoung Ken Yi

  2. Center for Space Astrophysics, Yonsei University, Sinchon 134, Seoul, Korea

    Young-Wook Lee, Soo-Chang Rey & Chang H. Ree

Authors
  1. Suk-Jin Yoon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Young-Wook Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Soo-Chang Rey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chang H. Ree
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sukyoung Ken Yi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yoon, SJ., Lee, YW., Rey, SC. et al. Horizontal-Branch Stars as Sources of the UV Upturn in Early-Type Galaxies. Astrophys Space Sci 291, 223–230 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ASTR.0000044325.31072.4d

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ASTR.0000044325.31072.4d

Search

Navigation