The Stellar Populations of HII galaxies: A tale of three bursts

Abstract

Aims. We present a UV to mid-IR spectral energy distribution study of a large sample of SDSS DR13 HII galaxies. These are selected as starburst (EW(Hα) > 50Å) and for their high excitation locus in the upper-left region of the BPT diagram. Their photometry was derived from the cross-matched GALEX, SDSS, UKDISS and WISE catalogues. Methods. We have used CIGALE modelling and SED fitting routine with the parametrization of a three burst star formation history, and a comprehensive analysis of all other model parameters. We have been able to estimate the contribution of the underlying old stellar population to the observed equivalent width of Hβ and allow for more accurate burst age determination. Results. We found that the star formation histories of HII Galaxies can be reproduced remarkably well by three major eras of star formation. In addition, the SED fitting results indicate that: i) in all cases the current burst produces less than a few percent of the total stellar mass: the bulk of stellar mass in HII galaxies have been produced by the past episodes of star formation; ii) at a given age the Hβ luminosity depends only on the mass of young stars favouring a universal IMF for massive stars; iii) the current star formation episodes are maximal starbursts, producing stars at the highest possible rate.