Fast Integrated Spectra Analyzer: A New Computational Tool For Age and Reddening Determination of Small Angular Diameter Open Clusters

TL;DR

The paper introduces FISA, a rapid computational tool that accurately determines the age and reddening of small open clusters using integrated spectra, significantly reducing analysis time compared to existing methods.

Contribution

It presents a novel algorithm and implementation for quick age and reddening estimation of open clusters from integrated spectra, with demonstrated successful applications.

Findings

Effective in analyzing clusters in the Galaxy and Magellanic Clouds.

Provides reasonably accurate results with shorter processing times.

Available code implementation for community use.

Abstract

We present a new algorithm called 'Fast Integrated Spectra Analyzer" (FISA) that permits fast and reasonably accurate age and reddening determinations for small angular diameter open clusters by using their integrated spectra in the (3600-7400) \AA \ range and currently available template spectrum libraries. This algorithm and its implementation help to achieve astrophysical results in shorter times than from other methods. A brief review is given of the integrated spectroscopic technique applied to the study of open clusters as well as the basic assumptions that justify its use. We describe the numerical algorithm employed in detail, show examples of its application, and provide a link to the code. Our method has successfully been applied to integrated spectroscopy of open clusters, both in the Galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds, to determine ages and reddenings.