SPITZER 70 {mu}m EMISSION AS A STAR FORMATION RATE INDICATOR FOR SUB-GALACTIC REGIONS

Journal Article · Fri Dec 10 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/725/1/677· OSTI ID:21474419

Yiming, Li; Calzetti, Daniela; Hong, Sungryong ^[1]; Kennicutt, Robert C ^[2]; Engelbracht, Charles W ^[3]; Dale, Daniel A ^[4]; Moustakas, John ^[5]

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1. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 (United States)
2. Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge University, Cambridge (United Kingdom)
3. Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, AZ (United States)
4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming, WY (United States)
5. Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA (United States)

We use Spitzer 24 {mu}m, 70 {mu}m and ground-based H{alpha} data for a sample of 40 SINGS galaxies to establish a star formation rate (SFR) indicator using 70 {mu}m emission for sub-galactic ({approx}0.05-2 kpc) line-emitting regions and to investigate limits in application. A linear correlation between 70 {mu}m and SFR is found and a star formation indicator SFR(70) is proposed for line-emitting sub-galactic regions as {Sigma}(SFR)(M{sub sun} yr{sup -1} kpc{sup -2}) = 9.4 x 10{sup -44} {Sigma}(70)(erg s{sup -1} kpc{sup -2}), for regions with 12 + log(O/H) {approx}> 8.4 and {Sigma}(SFR) {approx}> 10{sup -3}(M{sub sun} yr{sup -1} kpc{sup -2}), with a 1{sigma} dispersion around the calibration of {approx}0.16 dex. We also discuss the influence of metallicity on the scatter of the data. Comparing with the SFR indicator at 70 {mu}m for integrated light from galaxies, we find that there is {approx}40% excess 70 {mu}m emission in galaxies, which can be attributed to stellar populations not involved in the current star formation activity.

• OSTI ID: 21474419
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 725; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
CALIBRATION
CORRELATIONS
EMISSION
GALAXIES
STARS