Stellar populations in the near-IR: clues from integrated spectroscopy of globular clusters, Mariya Lyubenova (ESO Garching)

Current stellar population models have arguably the largest uncertainties in the near-IR wavelength range, partly due to a lack of large and well calibrated empirical spectral libraries. I will present a project, which aim it is to provide the first library of luminosity weighted integrated near-IR spectra of globular clusters to be used to test the current stellar population models and serve as calibrators for the future ones. Our pilot study includes a sample of 6 globular clusters in the LMC having a range of ages an metallicities. I will discuss their spectral properties, compare them with evolutionary population synthesis models, and search for potential reasons for the observed discrepancies. The discussion will highlight some of the implications due to the presence of carbon rich AGB stars in intermediate age (~1 Gyr) stellar populations.