The Evolution and Properties of Rotating Massive Star Populations

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2017 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/AA679F· OSTI ID:22869144

Choi, Jieun; Conroy, Charlie ^[1]; Byler, Nell ^[2]

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1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA 02138 (United States)
2. University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (United States)

We investigate the integrated properties of massive (>10 M{sub ⊙}) rotating single-star stellar populations for a variety of initial rotation rates (v/v{sub crit}=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6). We couple the new MESA Isochrone and Stellar Tracks (MIST) models to the Flexible Stellar Population Synthesis (FSPS) package, extending the stellar population synthesis models to include the contributions from very massive stars (>100 M{sub ⊙}), which can be significant in the first ∼4 Myr after a starburst. These models predict ionizing luminosities that are consistent with recent observations of young nuclear star clusters. We also construct composite stellar populations assuming a distribution of initial rotation rates. Even in low-metallicity environments where rotation has a significant effect on the evolution of massive stars, we find that stellar population models require a significant contribution from fast-rotating (v/v{sub crit}>0.4) stars in order to sustain the production of ionizing photons beyond a few Myr following a starburst. These results have potentially important implications for cosmic reionization by massive stars and the interpretation of nebular emission lines in high-redshift star-forming galaxies.

• OSTI ID: 22869144
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 838; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
DISTRIBUTION
EMISSION
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
LUMINOSITY
METALLICITY
PHOTONS
RED SHIFT
ROTATION
STAR CLUSTERS
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
SYNTHESIS