AGB stars as tracers to IC 1613 evolution

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new method using AGB stars, specifically LPVs, to reconstruct the star formation history of the dwarf galaxy IC 1613, demonstrating a nearly constant star formation rate over time.

Contribution

It introduces a simple, effective technique utilizing near-infrared photometry of LPVs to determine star formation history in nearby galaxies, applied successfully to IC 1613.

Findings

IC 1613 has had a nearly constant star formation rate

The method effectively reconstructs star formation history from LPV luminosity distribution

AGB stars serve as reliable tracers for galaxy evolution studies

Abstract

We are going to apply AGB stars to find star formation history for IC\,1613 galaxy, this a new and simple method that works well for nearby galaxies. IC\,1613 is a Local Group dwarf irregular galaxy that is located at distance of 750 kpc, a gas rich and isolated dwarf galaxy that has a low foreground extinction. We use the long period variable stars (LPVs) that represent the very final stage of evolution of stars with low and intermediate mass at the AGB phase and are very luminous and cool so that they emit maximum brightness in near--infrared bands. Thus near--infrared photometry with using stellar evolutionary models help us to convert brightness to birth mass and age and from this drive star formation history of the galaxy. We will use the luminosity distribution of the LPVs to reconstruct the star formation history--a method we have successfully applied in other Local Group galaxies. Our analysis shows that the IC 1613 has had a nearly constant star formation rate, without any dominant star formation episode.