The Effect of Horizontal Branch Stars on the Age-Dating of Simple Stellar Populations

Based on Yonsei Evolutionary Population Synthesis (YEPS), we have investigated the effect of horizontal branch stars (HBs) on the age-dating of simple stellar populations (SSPs). A detailed comparison of YEPS SSP with H_beta of M31 globular clusters (GCs) reveals (1) that the age dating without HB prescription gives ~5 Gyr younger ages for metal-poor M31 GCs, and (2) the age dating with HB prescription does not need any age gap between metal-poor and metal-rich GCs. This result is parallel to the well-known discrepancy in ages derived from integrated Balmer strengths and isochrone fittings of Milky Way GCs (MWGCs). Without a synthetic blue HB model, we cannot explain strong Balmer indices of metal-poor and old MWGCs. Our results suggest that the SSP model with well calibrated HBs should be used for the age-dating of SSPs to avoid a serious underestimation of ages due to the strong Balmer indices.