Theoretical stellar luminosity functions and the ages and compositions of globular clusters

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (36) References (61) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Theoretical Stellar Luminosity Functions and the Ages and Compositions of Globular Clusters Ratcliff, Stephen J. Abstract Using recently calculated tables (Los Alamos) of radiative opacities and the latest thermonuclear reaction rates, stellar evolutionary tracks for low-mass (0.4 - 1.2 M_sun;) Population II stars (0.0001 ≤ Z ≤ 0.01) have been calculated for two helium abundances, Y = 0.2 and 0.3. Luminosity functions (LFs) for ages 8 Gyr ≤ t ≤ 20 Gyr have been constructed from these tracks, and the resultant dependence of LF morphologies on age and chemical composition has been studied. The observed M13 LF has been compared to these theortical LFs. Assuming a distance modulus of (m-M)0= 14.3, a metallicity-independent lower bound of 14 Gyr can be placed on the age of M13. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: July 1987 DOI: 10.1086/165361 Bibcode: 1987ApJ...318..196R Keywords: Globular Clusters; Stellar Composition; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Luminosity; Stellar Models; Milky Way Galaxy; Red Giant Stars; Stellar Envelopes; Stellar Interiors; Stellar Structure; Astrophysics; CLUSTERS: GLOBULAR; LUMINOSITY FUNCTION; STARS: ABUNDANCES; STARS: EVOLUTION; STARS: INTERIORS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (4)