On the origin of the UV upturn in elliptical galaxies. I. Sensitivity of UV population synthesis to various input parameters

We present models of the late stages of stellar evolution intended to explain the "UV upturn" phenomenon in elliptical galaxies. Such models are sensitive to values of a number of poorly constrained physical parameters, including metallicity, age, stellar mass loss, helium enrichment, and the distribution of stars on the zero-age horizontal branch (HB). We explore the sensitivity of the results to values of these parameters and reach the following conclusions. Old, metal-rich galaxies, such as giant ellipticals, naturally develop a UV upturn within a reasonable timescale - less than a Hubble time - without the presence of young stars. The most likely stars to dominate the UV flux of such populations are low-mass, core helium-burning (HB and evolved HB) stars. Metal-poor populations produce a higher ratio of UV-to-V flux, owing to opacity effects, but only metal-rich stars develop a UV upturn, in which the flux increases toward shorter UV wavelengths.