Investigating the Evolution of Dwarf Galaxies in the Local Group

Smecker-Hane博士及其合作者将确定本星系群中矮星系的恒星形成和化学演化历史。他们将结合从巨大分支的尖端到远低于主序列关闭点的恒星的光度测定，并对三个星系中的每个星系中的几百颗恒星进行光谱金属丰度测定。第四个星系将被凯克10米望远镜观测，以确定我们银河系内部区域以外的恒星的组成。丰度模式将有助于估计恒星形成速率和气体含量是如何演变的。这些研究将与新的理论模型和矮星系的数值模拟相结合。将模型与获得的数据进行比较，将在理解控制星系演化的物理机制方面取得根本性的进展。

Smecker-Hane, Tammy 96-19460 Dr. Smecker-Hane and collaborators will determine the star-formation and chemical-evolution histories of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. They will combine photometry of stars from the tip of the giant branch to well below the main- sequence turnoff with spectroscopic metallicity determinations for a few hundred stars in each of three galaxies. A fourth galaxy will be observed with the Keck 10-m telescope to determine compositions for stars outside of the inner regions of our own Galaxy. The abundance patterns will lead to estimates of how the star-formation rate and gas content evolved. These studies will be combined with new theoretical models and numerical simulations of dwarf galaxies. Comparing the models with the data obtained will lead to fundamental advances in understanding the physical mechanisms that control the evolution of galaxies.