GALSPEC: A Tool for Computing the Spectra of Star-Forming Galaxies of Low Metallicity
Abstract
The far-ultraviolet spectral region is rich in diagnostics of star formation in galaxies; it gives information not only about the star-forming complex, but also about the dust and circumstellar gas. We have therefore developed a tool, called GALSPEC, for computing far-UV spectra of star-forming galaxies. The user controls the process through a graphical user interface (GUI) by specifying the input parameters for the stars, dust, and gas. GALSPEC computes the integrated spectrum of a star-forming complex, given the rate of star formation, metallicity (0.2 Zsun or 0.5 Zsun), and IMF upper mass limit. To compute the integrated spectrum, GALSPEC makes use of a library of stellar spectra composed of observed spectra from HST and model spectra calculated with the TLUSTY/SYNSPEC program (Hubeny & Lanz 1995). GALSPEC then applies wavelength-dependent extinction according to Calzetti's starburst extinction law. The mechanical luminosity from massive stars and supernovae sweeps up interstellar material thereby forming an expanding shell with a central cavity. GALSPEC computes the absorption spectrum of the shell using the CLOUDSPEC program (Hubeny 2000), a combination of Ferland's CLOUDY program and SYNSPEC. This work was supported by the STIS GTO program at Goddard and by STScI grants (GO 7437, AR 7985).
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2000
- Bibcode:
- 2000AAS...197.7813H