TP-AGB Stars to Date High-Redshift Galaxies with the Spitzer Space Telescope

Abstract

We present new stellar population models that include the contribution of the Thermally Pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch (TP-AGB) phase also in the synthetic spectral energy distribution (SED). The TP-AGB phase is essential for a correct modeling of intermediate-age (0.2 < t/Gyr < 1-2) stellar populations, because it provides ~40% of the bolometric contribution, and up to ~80% of that in the K-band. These models are obtained by coupling the energetic of the TP-AGB phase as calibrated with data of Magellanic Clouds star clusters (Maraston 1998), with empirical spectra of TP-AGB stars (Lancon & Mouchine 2002). Now that the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) allows the sight of the rest-frame IR at high redshifts, these models provide the opportunity to use the TP-AGB phase as an age indicator also for high-redshift stellar populations. Here we focus on redshift 3 and provide predictions of the colours of various galaxy models as will be measured by means of the IRAC imaging instrument on board the SST. We find a sizable magnitude difference between TP-AGB-dominated high-redshift stellar populations and those being older or younger. The first releases of GOODS data should allow a check of these predictions.