Expected Differences between AGB Stars in the LMC and the SMC Due to Differences in Chemical Composition

Certain aspects of the AGB population, such as the relative number of M and N stars, the mass loss rates, and the initial masses of carbon-oxygen cores, depend on the initial heavy element abundance Z. I have calculated synthetic populations of AGB stars for different initial Z values taking into consideration the evolution of single and close binary stars. I present the results of population syntheses of AGB stars in clusters as a function of different initial chemical compositions. The relation for the tip luminosity of AGB stars versus cluster age as a function of Z is presented and is used to determine the ages for a number of clusters in the LMC and the SMC, including clusters with no previous age determinations.

Expected Differences between AGB Stars in the LMC and the SMC Due to Differences in Chemical Composition Journal Articles