The stellar content of a prototype double barred galaxy

Abstract

High spatial resolution visible and NIR observations of the bar of NGC 5850, a prototype of double barred spirals, together with visible intermediate and high dispersion spectra along the primary bar, are being used, with the aid of simple stellar population synthesis models, to investigate the mean age and metallicity of the different stellar components of the central part of the galaxy. The determination of stellar ages and metallicities would constrain theoretical scenarios for secondary bar formation and the evolution of barred spirals. Unfortunately, we cannot obtain a good fit with simple stellar populations (SSPs) to the spectral indices, so it can not give us, by now, insight into the mean stellar age and metallicity of the real populations in the central region of the galaxy. These preliminary results show a relatively old primary bar with metallicity about solar, although absolute values must be taken with care. The nucleus has a young stellar component, and is very dusty.