Surface Brightness Fluctuation Magnitudes Research Articles

IMF-induced intrinsic uncertainties on measuring galaxy distances based on the number of giant stars: the case of the ultradiffuse galaxy NGC 1052-DF2

ABSTRACT The surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) technique is one of the distance measurement methods that has been applied on the low surface brightness (LSB) galaxy NGC 1052-DF2 yielding a distance of about 20 Mpc implying it to be a dark matter deficient galaxy. We assume the number of giant stars above a given luminosity threshold to represent the SBF magnitude. The SBF magnitude depends on the distance, but this is degenerate with the star formation history (SFH). Using a stellar population synthesis model, we calculate the number of giant stars for stellar populations with different galaxy-wide stellar initial mass functions (gwIMFs), ages, metallicities, and SFHs. If the gwIMF is the invariant canonical IMF, the 1σ (3σ) uncertainty in colour allows a distance as low as 12 Mpc (8 Mpc). If instead the true underlying gwIMF is the integrated galaxy-wide IMF (IGIMF) then overestimating distances for low-mass galaxies would be a natural result, allowing NGC 1052-DF2 to have a distance of 11 Mpc within the 1σ colour uncertainty. Finally, we show that our main conclusion on the existence of a bias in the SBF distance estimation is not much affected by changing the luminosity lower limit for counting giant stars.

Measuring Distances to Low-luminosity Galaxies Using Surface Brightness Fluctuations

Abstract We present an in-depth study of surface brightness fluctuations (SBFs) in low-luminosity stellar systems. Using the MIST models, we compute theoretical predictions for absolute SBF magnitudes in the LSST, HST ACS/WFC, and proposed Roman Space Telescope filter systems. We compare our calculations to observed SBF–color relations of systems that span a wide range of age and metallicity. Consistent with previous studies, we find that single-age population models show excellent agreement with observations of low-mass galaxies with 0.5 ≲ g − i ≲ 0.9. For bluer galaxies, the observed relation is better fit by models with composite stellar populations. To study SBF recovery from low-luminosity systems, we perform detailed image simulations in which we inject fully populated model galaxies into deep ground-based images from real observations. Our simulations show that LSST will provide data of sufficient quality and depth to measure SBF magnitudes with precisions of ∼0.2–0.5 mag in ultra-faint and low-mass classical (M ⋆ ≤ 107 M ⊙) dwarf galaxies out to ∼4 Mpc and ∼25 Mpc, respectively, within the first few years of its deep-wide-fast survey. Many significant practical challenges and systematic uncertainties remain, including an irreducible “sampling scatter” in the SBFs of ultra-faint dwarfs due to their undersampled stellar mass functions. We nonetheless conclude that SBFs in the new generation of wide-field imaging surveys have the potential to play a critical role in the efficient confirmation and characterization of dwarf galaxies in the nearby universe.

Yonsei Evolutionary Population Synthesis (YEPS) Model. III. Surface Brightness Fluctuation of Normal and Helium-enhanced Simple Stellar Populations

We present an evolutionary population synthesis model of the surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) for normal and He-enriched simple stellar populations (SSPs). While our SBF model for the normal-He population agrees with other existing models, the He-rich population, containing hotter horizontal-branch stars and brighter red-clump stars than the normal-He population, entails a substantial change in the SBF of SSPs. We show that the SBF magnitudes are affected by He-rich populations at least $\sim$0.3~mag even in $I$- and near-IR bands at given colors, from which the SBF-based distances are often derived. Due to uncertainties both in observations and models, however, the SBFs of Galactic globular clusters and early-type galaxies do not allow verifying the He-enriched model. We propose that when combined with independent metallicity and age indicators such as ${\rm Mg}_2$ and ${\rm H}\beta$, the UV and optical SBFs can readily detect underlying He-rich populations in unresolved stellar systems at a distance out to $\gtrsim 20$\,Mpc. A full set of the spectro-photometric and SBF data for SSPs from the Yonsei Evolutionary Population Synthesis (YEPS) model is available for download at http://cosmic.yonsei.ac.kr/YEPS.htm.

Surface brightness fluctuation spectra to constrain stellar population properties

ABSTRACT We present a new set of surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) spectra computed with the E-MILES stellar population synthesis models. The model SBF spectra cover the range λλ1680–50 000 at moderately high resolution, all based on extensive empirical stellar libraries. The models span the metallicity range $-2.3\le \mbox{$\mbox{[M/H]}$}\le +0.26$ for a suite of intial mass function types with varying slopes. These predictions can complement and aid fluctuation magnitude studies, permitting a first-order approximation by applying filter responses to the SBF spectra to obtain spectroscopic SBF magnitudes. We provide a recipe for obtaining the latter and discuss their uncertainties and limitations. We compare our spectroscopic SBF magnitudes to photometric data of a sample of early-type galaxies. We also show that the SBF spectra can be very useful for constraining relevant stellar population parameters. We find small (<5 per cent) mass fractions of extremely metal-poor components ($\mbox{$\mbox{[M/H]}$}\lt -1$) on the top of the dominant, old, and metal-rich stellar population. These results put stringent constraints on the early stages of galaxy formation in massive elliptical galaxies. This is remarkable given the high degree of degeneracy of the standard spectral analysis to such metal-poor stellar populations in the visible and in the near-infrared. The new SBF models show great potential for exploiting ongoing surveys, particularly those based on narrow-band filters.

Mid-IR colors and surface brightness fluctuations as tracers of stellar mass-loss in the TP-AGB

AbstractI present integrated colors and surface brightness fluctuation magnitudes in the mid-IR, derived from stellar population synthesis models that include the effects of the dusty envelopes around TP-AGB stars. The models are based on the Bruzual & Charlot CB* isochrones; they are single-burst, range in age from a few Myr to 14 Gyr, and comprise metallicities between Z = 0.0001 and Z = 0.04. I compare these models to mid-IR data of AGB stars and star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds, and study the effects of varying self-consistently the mass-loss rate, the stellar parameters, and the output spectra of the stars plus their dusty envelopes.

Tracers of Stellar Mass-loss. II. Mid-IR Colors and Surface Brightness Fluctuations

Abstract I present integrated colors and surface brightness fluctuation magnitudes in the mid-infrared (IR), derived from stellar population synthesis models that include the effects of the dusty envelopes around thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars. The models are based on the Bruzual & Charlot CB* isochrones; they are single-burst, range in age from a few Myr to 14 Gyr, and comprise metallicities between Z = 0.0001 and Z = 0.04. I compare these models to mid-IR data of AGB stars and star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds, and study the effects of varying self-consistently the mass-loss rate, the stellar parameters, and the output spectra of the stars plus their dusty envelopes. I find that models with a higher than fiducial mass-loss rate are needed to fit the mid-IR colors of “extreme” single AGB stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Surface brightness fluctuation magnitudes are quite sensitive to metallicity for 4.5 μm and longer wavelengths at all stellar population ages, and powerful diagnostics of mass-loss rate in the TP-AGB for intermediate-age populations, between 100 Myr and 2–3 Gyr.

The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XVIII. Measurement and Calibration of Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distances for Bright Galaxies in Virgo (and Beyond)

Abstract We describe a program to measure surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) distances to galaxies observed in the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS), a photometric imaging survey covering 104 deg2 of the Virgo cluster in the u*, g, i, and z bandpasses with the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope. We describe the selection of the sample galaxies, the procedures for measuring the apparent i-band SBF magnitude , and the calibration of the absolute as a function of observed stellar population properties. The multiband NGVS data set provides multiple options for calibrating the SBF distances, and we explore various calibrations involving individual color indices as well as combinations of two different colors. Within the color range of the present sample, the two-color calibrations do not significantly improve the scatter with respect to wide-baseline, single-color calibrations involving u*. We adopt the calibration as a reference for the present galaxy sample, with an observed scatter of 0.11 mag. For a few cases that lack good u* photometry, we use an alternative relation based on a combination of and colors, with only a slightly larger observed scatter of 0.12 mag. The agreement of our measurements with the best existing distance estimates provides confidence that our measurements are accurate. We present a preliminary catalog of distances for 89 galaxies brighter than B T ≈ 13.0 mag within the survey footprint, including members of the background M and W Clouds at roughly twice the distance of the main body of the Virgo cluster. The extension of the present work to fainter and bluer galaxies is in progress.

Cosmic distances from surface brightness fluctuations

AbstractHigh spatial-resolution measurements of surface brightness fluctuations (SBFs) with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) provide the most precise distances available to early-type galaxies beyond the Local Group. The observable SBF magnitude in a given bandpass is a basic property of any stellar system, corresponding to a ratio of the first and second moments of the stellar luminosity function. Calibration of the method has presented challenges, but we now have an excellent empirical determination of how the SBF observable varies with galaxy color in broad bandpasses at the red end of the optical spectrum, and we are working towards a similar calibration for HST's Wide-Field Camera 3 in the near-infrared wavelength range, where the SBF magnitudes are considerably brighter. From HST Advanced Camera for Surveys data, we have determined the relative distances of the Virgo and Fornax clusters to within a precision of 2%, and resolved their internal structures. More recent measurements allow us to tie the Coma cluster, the standard of comparison for distant cluster studies, to the same precise distance scale. The SBF method can be calibrated in an absolute sense either empirically using Cepheids or theoretically based on stellar population models. The agreement between model and empirical zero points provides an independent confirmation of the Cepheid distance scale.

Near-infrared surface brightness fluctuation measurements with the Hubble Space Telescope's WFC3/IR channel

AbstractThe surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) method at near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths is a powerful tool for estimating distances to unresolved stellar systems with high precision. The IR channel of the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), installed on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in 2009, has a greater sensitivity and a wider field of view than the previous generation of HST IR instruments, making it much more efficient for measuring distances to early-type galaxies in the Local Volume. To take full advantage of its capabilities, we need to empirically calibrate the SBF distance method for WFC3's NIR passbands. We present the SBF measurements for the WFC3/IR F160W bandpass filter using observations of 16 early-type galaxies in the Fornax and Virgo Clusters. These have been combined with existing (g475–z850) color measurements from the Advanced Camera for Surveys Virgo and Fornax Cluster Surveys to derive a space-based H160-band SBF relation as a function of color. We have also compared the absolute SBF magnitudes to those predicted by evolutionary population synthesis models in order to study stellar population properties in the target galaxies.

Distances and stellar population properties for 12 elliptical galaxies

Aims. We use the surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) technique to derive the distances and analyse the radial behaviour of stellar populations in a sample of 12 elliptical galaxies. The data are I-band images collected with the FORS1 camera at the Very Large Telescope (VLT), drawn from the ESO archive. The main purpose of our analysis is to carry out the study of SBF magnitudes without relying on additional colour information that is normally required in SBF studies. Methods. We measure I-band SBF magnitudes and SBF variations with galaxy radii, which is useful for stellar population studies. Unlike typical applications of the SBF technique, the absolute SBF magnitudes needed to evaluate the distance moduli are derived using the fluctuation star count, ¯ N. Results. The distances obtained using the ¯ N calibration taken from the literature show a good agreement with available estimates. We find a median ∼0.2 mag difference between our and literature distance moduli, with the only exception of NGC 5090, which shows the I-band SBF ∼1 mag brighter than expected. The median statistical and systematic errors are ∼0.2 and ∼0.1 mag, respectively. On these grounds we consider the test of deriving SBF distances based on the ¯ N calibration to be successful. Taking into account that some of the previously estimated distances were made as long as 15 years ago, the new measurements provide an updated sketch on distances for a set of galaxies towards the region of the Great Attractor. Furthermore, gauging the SBF of the unresolved stellar systems has returned negative SBF radial gradients in the inner regions of five galaxies: a feature already known and explained by lower metallicity at larger galactic radii. Somehow unexpectedly, though, we detect positive SBF gradients at large radii (>20 kpc) in nine targets. This behaviour, if it is not caused by some unaccounted observational bias, could be explained at least partly as a statistical effect on the stellar counts at these radii. Additional (near-IR) observations are necessary to confirm the real existence of this feature and to allow us to reach more robust conclusions.

VLT opticalBVRobservations of two bright supernova Ia hosts in the Virgo cluster

We study the two galaxies NGC4621 and NGC4374 in the Virgo cluster to derive their distances and stellar population properties. The targets have hosted three type Ia Supernova events allowing to investigate the correlations between the SNeIa and their host stellar systems. Using deep BVR data, obtained with FORS2 at the VLT, we analyse the Surface Brightness Fluctuations (SBF) properties of the targets. We adopt our measurements and existing calibrations to estimate the distance of NGC4621 and NGC4374. For stellar population analysis, we measured SBF amplitudes in different galaxy regions. We present a detailed comparison between data and models to constrain the characteristics of the dominant stellar components at i) various galactic radii, and ii) in the regions where SNeIa were recorded. Our V and R SBF measures provide distances in agreement with literature estimates. The median of our and literature SBF-based distances agrees with the one from non-SBF methods. Comparing data with models we find that stellar populations properties do not change significantly along galactic radius, with a dominant population having old age and solar chemical composition. The galaxies appear similar in all properties analysed, except for B-band SBF. Since the SBF magnitudes in this band are sensitive to the properties of a hot stellar component, we speculate that such behaviour is a consequence of different diffuse hot components in the galaxies. We find that the presence of a percentage of hot-HB stars in old and metal rich stellar populations could be at the origin of the observed differences. We find a good uniformity in the V and R SBF and integrated colours in the regions where the three SNeIa exploded. On the other hand, the B-band SBF signal shows intriguing differences.

SURFACE BRIGHTNESS FLUCTUATIONS IN THEHUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPEACS/WFC F814W BANDPASS AND AN UPDATE ON GALAXY DISTANCES

We measure surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) magnitudes in the F814W filter and g-I colors for nine bright early-type Fornax cluster galaxies imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The goal is to achieve the first systematic SBF calibration for the ACS/F814W bandpass. Because of its much higher throughput, F814W is more efficient for SBF studies of distant galaxies than the ACS/F850LP bandpass that has been used to study nearby systems. Over the color range spanned by the sample galaxies, 1.06<g-I<1.32 (AB mag), the dependence of SBF magnitude mbar_I on g-I is linear to a good approximation, with slope $\sim2$. When the F850LP SBF distance measurements from the ACS Fornax Cluster Survey are used to derive absolute Mbar_I magnitudes, the dependence on g-I becomes extremely tight, with a slope of $1.8\pm0.2$ and scatter of 0.03 mag. The small observed scatter indicates both that the estimated random errors are correct, and that the intrinsic deviations from the SBF-color relation are strongly correlated between the F814W and F850LP bandpasses, as expected. The agreement with predictions from stellar population models is good, both in slope and zero point, indicating that our mean Fornax distance of 20 Mpc is accurate. The models predict curvature in the relation beyond the color limits of our sample; thus, the linear calibration should not be extrapolated naively. In the Appendices, we reconsider the Tonry ground-based and Jensen NICMOS SBF distance catalogues; we provide a correction formula to ameliorate the small apparent bias in the former, and the offset needed to make the latter consistent with other SBF studies. We also tabulate two new SBF distances to galaxies observed in the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey.

EFFECTS OF α-ELEMENT ENHANCEMENT AND THE THERMALLY PULSING-ASYMPTOTIC GIANT BRANCH ON SURFACE BRIGHTNESS FLUCTUATION MAGNITUDES AND BROADBAND COLORS

We investigate the effects of alpha-element enhancement and the thermally pulsing-asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars on the surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) magnitudes and broadband colors of simple stellar populations and compare to the empirical calibrations. We consider a broad range of ages and metallicities using the recently updated Teramo BaSTI isochrones. We find that the alpha-element enhanced I-band SBF magnitudes are about 0.35 mag brighter and their integrated V - I colors are about 0.02 mag redder, mostly because of oxygen enhancement effects on the upper red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch. We also demonstrate, using both the Teramo BaSTI and Padova isochrones, the acute sensitivity of SBF magnitudes to the presence of TP-AGB stars, particularly in the near-IR, but in the I-band as well. Empirical SBF trends therefore hold great promise for constraining this important but still highly uncertain stage of stellar evolution. In a similar vein, non-negligible disparities are found among several different models available in the literature due to intrinsic model uncertainties.

Optical Surface Brightness Fluctuations of Shell Galaxies toward 100 Mpc

We measure F814W surface brightness fluctuations (SBFs) for a sample of distant shell galaxies with radial velocities ranging from 4000 to 8000 km s−1. The distance at galaxies is then evaluated by using the SBF method. For this purpose, theoretical SBF magnitudes for the HST ACS filters are computed for single-burst stellar populations covering a wide range of ages (t = 1.5–14 Gyr) and metallicities (Z = 0.008–0.04). Using these stellar population models, we provide the first F814W versus (F 475W − F 814W)0 calibration and we extend the previous M1 versus (B − I)0 color relation to colors (B − I)0 ≤ 2.0 mag. Coupling our SBF measurements with the theoretical calibration we derive distances with a statistical uncertainty of ~8%, and systematic error of ~6%. The procedure developed to analyze data ensures that the indetermination due to possible unmasked residual shells is well below ~12%. The results suggest that optical SBFs can be measured at d ≥ 100 Mpc with HST ACS imaging. SBF-based distances coupled with recession velocities corrected for peculiar motion, allow us obtain H0 = 76 ± 6 (statistical) ±5 (systematic) km s−1 Mpc−1.

Surface Brightness Fluctuations from Archival ACS Images: A Stellar Population and Distance Study

We derive Surface Brightness Fluctuations (SBF) and integrated magnitudes in the V- and I-bands using Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) archival data. The sample includes 14 galaxies covering a wide range of physical properties: morphology, total absolute magnitude, integrated color. We take advantage of the latter characteristic of the sample to check existing empirical calibrations of absolute SBF magnitudes both in the I- and V-passbands. Additionally, by comparing our SBF and color data with the Teramo-SPoT simple stellar population models, and other recent sets of population synthesis models, we discuss the feasibility of stellar population studies based on fluctuation magnitudes analysis. The main result of this study is that multiband optical SBF data and integrated colors can be used to significantly constrain the chemical composition of the dominant stellar system in the galaxy, but not the age in the case of systems older than 3 Gyr. SBF color gradients are also detected and analyzed. These SBF gradient data, together with other available data, point to the existence of mass dependent metallicity gradients in galaxies, with the more massive objects showing a non--negligible SBF versus color gradient. The comparison with models suggests that such gradients imply more metal rich stellar populations in the galaxies' inner regions with respect to the outer ones.

Detection of Surface Brightness Fluctuations in Elliptical Galaxies Imaged with the Advanced Camera for Surveys:B‐ andI‐Band Measurements

Taking advantage of the exceptional capabilities of the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we derive surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) measurements in the B and I bands from images of six elliptical galaxies with 1500 ≤ cz ≤ 3500. Given the low signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the SBF signal in the blue-band images, the reliability of the measurements is verified both with numerical simulations and with experimental data tests. This paper presents the first published B- and I-band SBF measurements for distant (≥20 Mpc) galaxies, which are essential for comparisons of models to observations of normal ellipticals. By comparing I-band data with our new simple stellar population (SSP) models, we find an excellent agreement, and we confirm that I-band SBF magnitudes are mainly sensitive to the metallicity of the dominant stellar components in the galaxies and are not strongly affected by the contribution of possible secondary stellar components. As a consequence, I-band fluctuation magnitudes are ideal for distance studies. On the other hand, we show that standard SSP models do not reproduce the B-band SBF magnitudes of red [(B - I)0 2.1] galaxies in our sample. We explore the capability of two noncanonical models in properly reproducing the high sensitivity of B SBFs to the presence of even small fractions of bright, hot stars (metal-poor stars, hot evolved stars, etc.). The disagreement is solved both by taking into account hot (post-asymptotic giant branch [AGB]) stars in SSP models and/or by adopting composite stellar population models. Finally, we suggest a limit value of the S/N for the B-band SBF signal required to carry out a detailed study of stellar population properties based on this technique.

The Effect Of Alpha-Element Enhancement On Surface Brightness Fluctuation Magnitudes And Broad-Band Colors

We present the effects due to alpha-element enhancement on surface brightness fluctuation magnitudes and broad-band colors in order to investigate the calibration zero-point. We study these effects at ages covering 0.1 to 13 Gyr and metallicities of Z=0.0003 to 0.04 using the Teramo group's isochrones, BaSTI. Our preliminary results indicate that alpha-enhanced models are needed to match massive red galaxies while solar-scaled models are fine for dwarf blue galaxies to reproduce their independently estimated ages and metallicities.

An I-band calibration of surface brightness fluctuation measurements at blue colours

Context. The surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) method is a powerful tool for deriving distances to galaxies for which single stars cannot be resolved. Up to now, the method has been calibrated mainly at red colours due to the intrinsic faintness of blue early-type galaxies. Aims. In this paper we address the I-band calibration of the SBF method at blue colours, the regime of dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs). Methods. We present deep and wide-field VIphotometry of the central Fornax cluster obtained at Las Campanas Observatory. With these data we perform an SBF analysis of 25 dEs in the range −16.5 < MV < −11. 2m ag, 0.8 < (V − I)0 < 1.10 mag. Our colour calibration is accurate to better than 2%. For the calibration analysis we exclude eight dEs whose SBF measurement was affected by poor seeing (FWHM � 1 �� ). Results. Our SBF data are inconsistent at the 3σ level with a colour independent absolute SBF magnitude MI, presenting a problem for SBF models that predict such a “flat” relation. There is a weak indication in our data (1.8σ) to favour a two-branch calibration over a one-branch calibration with broad scatter in the MI − (V − I) plane. We obtain the following one-branch empirical SBF calibration: MI = −2.13(±0.17) + 2.44(±1.94) × [(V − I)0 − 1.00] mag. We deduce a 0.34 ± 0.14 mag cosmic scatter of MI, which is significantly larger than found at redder colours. This agrees with those theoretical SBF models that predict MI is more sensitive to age-metallicity variations in the blue than in the red. We find evidence that the fainter galaxies in our samples contain younger and more metal-rich stellar populations than the brighter ones. The application of our empirical calibration to published SBF measurements of Hydra and Centaurus cluster dEs leaves the distances to both clusters unchanged.

A Large Stellar Evolution Database for Population Synthesis Studies. II. Stellar Models and Isochrones for an α‐enhanced Metal Distribution

[Abridged] We present a large, new set of stellar evolution models and isochrones for an alpha-enhanced metal distribution typical of Galactic halo and bulge stars; it represents a homogeneous extension of our stellar model library for a distribution already presented in Pietrinferni et al.(2004). The effect of the alpha-element enhancement has been properly taken into account in the nuclear network, opacity, equation of state and, for the first time, the bolometric corrections, and color transformations. This allows us to avoid the inconsistent use - common to all alpha-enhanced model libraries currently available - of scaled-solar bolometric corrections and color transformations for alpha-enhanced models and isochrones. We show how bolometric corrections to magnitudes obtained for the U,B portion of stellar spectra for T_{eff}<=6500K, are significantly affected by the metal mixture, especially at the higher metallicities. We also provide complete sets of evolutionary models for low-mass, He-burning stellar structures covering the whole metallicity range, to enable synthetic horizontal branch simulations. We compare our database with several widely used stellar model libraries from different authors, as well as with various observed color magnitude and color-color diagrams (Johnson-Cousins BVI and near infrared magnitudes, Stromgren colors) of Galactic field stars and globular clusters. We also test our isochrones comparing integrated optical colors and Surface Brightness Fluctuation magnitudes with selected globular cluster data. We find a general satisfactory agreement with the empirical constraints.

Surface-brightness fluctuations in stellar populations

Aims. A new theoretical calibration of surface-brightness fluctuations (SBF) for single age, single metallicity stellar populations is presented for the optical and near-IR broad-band filters, as well as for the HST WFPC2 and ACS filters. Methods. The IAC-star code is used. Two Padua and the Teramo stellar evolution libraries have been considered. A set of single-burst stellar populations (SSP) with a wide range of ages (3 Gy−15 Gy) and metallicities (Z = 0.0001−0.03) have been computed using each one of the three considered stellar evolution libraries. For each SSP, color indexes and SBF magnitudes are given for the filters U, B, V, R, I, J, H, K, F218W, F336W, F439W, F450W, F555W and F814W, and for the first time, an uncertainty has been estimated for the SBF theoretical calibration. Results. Although some differences might be addressed, the Padua and Teramo stellar evolution libraries provide comparable SBF results. A detailed comparison of the present SBF calibrations with both previous calibrations and observational data is also presented. Comparing the different models with observational data, Padua based models reproduce fairly well the optical data for globular clusters, while Teramo based models fits both optical galaxies and globular clusters data, as well. In the near-IR wavelengths, the Teramo based models provide the only SBF theoretical calibration to date able to properly reproduce the observational data for superclusters, with intermediate-to-low metallicity. As a conclusion, Teramo based models work better than any other calibration reproducing observational data for the near-IR wavelengths. Furthermore, the age-metallicity degeneracy is broken for low metallicity (Z ≤ 0.0037) stellar populations. Finally, a clear relation between the B SBF absolute magnitude of a stellar population and its metallicity is found for intermediate to old populations, so the B-band fluctuation magnitude is proposed as a metallicity tracer. The present theoretical calibration shows that the analysis of SBF provides a very powerful tool in the study and characterization of unresolved stellar populations.