Comparison of Alpha-Element Enhanced Simple Stellar Population Models with Milky Way Globular Clusters

TL;DR

This study develops and tests alpha-element enhanced simple stellar population models against Milky Way Globular Clusters, confirming elemental enhancements and the influence of IMF on spectral features.

Contribution

The paper introduces SSP models with alpha-enhancement based on the Dartmouth database and systematically analyzes their spectral features compared to observed globular clusters.

Findings

Mg and Ca are enhanced in MWGCs, consistent with high-resolution spectra.

Alpha-enhanced models reproduce Balmer lines due to isochrone, spectral, and HB effects.

Shallow IMFs are inconsistent with observed Balmer line strengths.

Abstract

We present simple stellar population (SSP) models with scaled-solar and alpha-element enhanced abundances. The SSP models are based on the Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database, our library of synthetic stellar spectra, and a detailed systematic variation of horizontal-branch (HB) morphology with age and metallicity. In order to test the relative importance of a variety of SSP model ingredients, we compare our SSP models with integrated spectra of 41 Milky Way Globular Clusters (MWGCs) from Schiavon et al. (2005). Using the Mg b and Ca4227 indices, we confirm that Mg and Ca are enhanced by about +0.4 and +0.2 dex, respectively, in agreement with results from high resolution spectra of individual stars in MWGCs. Balmer lines, particularly Hgamma and Hdelta, of MWGCs are reproduced by our alpha-enhanced SSP models not only because of the combination of isochrone and spectral effects but also because of our reasonable HB treatment. Moreover, it is shown that the Mg abundance significantly influences Balmer and iron line indices. Finally, the investigation of power-law initial mass function (IMF) variations suggests that an IMF much shallower than Salpeter is unrealistic because the Balmer lines are too strong on the metal-poor side to be compatible with observations.