Open AccessDeep Near‐Infrared Imaging of a Field in the Outer Disk of M82 with the Altair Adaptive Optics System on Gemini‐North
Author(s) -
T. J. Davidge,
J. Stoesz,
François Rigaut,
JeanPierre Véran,
Glen Herriot
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
publications of the astronomical society of the pacific
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.294
H-Index - 172
eISSN - 1538-3873
pISSN - 0004-6280
DOI - 10.1086/380850
Subject(s) - physics , asymptotic giant branch , astrophysics , stars , astronomy , brightness , galaxy , red giant , red giant branch , surface brightness , adaptive optics , rgb color model , star formation , metallicity , computer science , operating system
Deep H and K' images, recorded with the ALTAIR adaptive optics system andNIRI imager on Gemini North, are used to probe the red stellar content in afield with a projected distance of 1 kpc above the disk plane of the starburstgalaxy M82. The data have an angular resolution of 0.08 arcsec FWHM, andindividual AGB and RGB stars are resolved. The AGB extends to at least 1.7 magin K above the RGB-tip, which occurs at K = 21.7. The relative numbers ofbright AGB stars and RGB stars are consistent with stellar evolution models,and one of the brightest AGB stars has an H-K color and K brightness that isconsistent with it being a C star. The brightnesses of the AGB stars suggestthat they formed during intermediate epochs, possibily after the last majorinteraction with M81. Therefore, star formation in M82 during intermediateepochs may not have been restricted to the plane of the disk.Comment: 16 pages of text plus 7 postscript figures; to appear in the PAS
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