Integrated spectral evolution of star clusters of the Milky Way and the Small Magellanic Cloud

AHUMADA, A. V.; CLARIÁ, J. J.; BICA, E.

Congreso; 48o Reunion de la Asoc. Arg. de Astronomia; 2005

We examine the integrated spectral evolution in the range (3600-7000)Šof 42 Galactic open clusters, from those associated with gas emission until ages as old as a few Gyr. Twenty two solar-metallicity templates were created characterized by a high S/N ratio and a good temporal resolution. This new library is particularly useful to study the synthesis of stellar populations in giant galaxies with large regions of stellar formation. Integrated spectra for a sample of 24 star clusters of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) are also presented, which will be very useful for integrated studies in distant galaxies with metallicities similar to those of the SMC clusters, especially in dwarf galaxies. E(B-V) colour excesses and ages are determined for all the observed clusters, which allows to widen the current knowledge of the star cluster systems both in the Milky Way and in the SMC.