Abstract
We present the evolution of synthetic ultraviolet spectra of starburst regions having a significant fraction of binaries. The population synthesis program uses an extended library of stellar evolutionary tracks of single stars and binaries computed with the most recent stellar wind mass loss rates during RSG, LBV and WR stages. In the case of binaries we account in detail for the effects of Roche lobe overflow, mass transfer and mass accretion, common envelope evolution, the spiral-in process, asymmetric kicks to neutron stars as a result of their supernova explosion, etc. The most important synthesized line profiles are those of Si iv λ1400 and C iv λ1550, two P-Cygni lines prominent in O-type stars. The main effect of the close binaries is to extend the UV bright lifetime of the starburst due to the appearance of accretion stars. But more importantly, our computations show that a spectrum of a single star model of about 6 Myr old is effectively undistinguishable from that of a binary rich model of about 10 Myr old. This indicates a possible age degeneracy, reminiscent of the influence of binaries on the commonly used optical age indicator WHβ.
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