  We compute surface brightness profiles of galactic disks for outwardly
propagating waves of star formation with a view to investigate the stellar
populations in ring galaxies. We consider two mechanisms which can create
outwardly propagating star forming rings in a purely gaseous disk --- a
self-induced wave and a density wave. We show that the surface brightness
profiles produced by both scenarios of ring formation are similar and are
strongly sensitive to the velocity of the wave. The results of our computations
are compared with the observational quantities sensitive to the young and old
stellar populations in the ring galaxies A0035-335 (the Cartwheel galaxy) and
VIIZw466. The best fit to the observed radial H_alpha surface brightness
distribution in the Cartwheel galaxy is obtained for a wave velocity of about
90 km/s. The red continuum brightness of the ring can be fully explained by the
evolving stars present in the trailing part of the wave. However the red
continuum brightness in regions internal to the ring indicates that the wave of
star formation propagates in a pre-existing stellar disk in the Cartwheel. The
H_alpha and K-band surface brightness profiles in VIIZw466 match the values
expected from stellar populations produced by a wave of star formation
propagating in a purely gaseous disk very well. We conclude that VIIZw466 is
probably experiencing the first event of star formation in the disk.

Astrophysics