The dearth of UV-bright stars in M32: Implications for stellar evolution theory

Using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope, we have obtained deep, far-ultraviolet images of the compact elliptical galaxy M32. When combined with earlier near- ultraviolet images of the same field, these data enable the construction of an ultraviolet color- magnitude diagram of the hot horizontal branch ( HB) population and other hot stars in late phases of stellar evolution. We find few post - asymptotic giant branch ( PAGB) stars in the galaxy, implying that these stars either cross the H- R diagram more rapidly than expected, and/ or that they spend a significant fraction of their time enshrouded in circumstellar material. The predicted luminosity gap between the hot HB and its AGB- manque ( AGBM) progeny is less pronounced than expected, especially when compared to evolutionary tracks with enhanced helium abundances, implying that the presence of hot HB stars in this metal- rich population is not due to Delta Y/Delta Z greater than or similar to 4. Only a small fraction ( similar to 2%) of the HB population is hot enough to produce significant UV emission, yet most of the UV emission in this galaxy comes from the hot HB and AGBM stars, implying that PAGB stars are not a significant source of UV emission, even in those elliptical galaxies with a weak UV excess.