Stellar Population Analysis of Galaxies based on Genetic Algorithms

We present a new method for determining the age and relative contri- bution of different stellar populations in galaxies based on the genetic algorithm. We apply this method to the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3384, using CCD images in U, B, V , R and I bands. This analysis indicates that the galaxy NGC 3384 is mainly inhabited by old stellar population (age > 10 9 yr). Some problems were encountered when numerical simulations are used for determining the contribution of different stellar populations in the integrated color of a galaxy. The results show that the proposed genetic algorithm can search efficiently through the very large space of the possible ages.