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Star-formation rates and forbidden O II emission in blue galaxies

Journal Article · · Astron. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115015· OSTI ID:6063336
Observations of forbidden O II 3727 A and H-beta emission-line strengths are presented from large-aperture spectrophotometric observations of nearby (z less than 0.1) optically blue galaxies covering a wide range in surface brightness and luminosity. The forbidden O II emission-line equivalent widths in these galaxies primarily lie between 30 and 100 A. Emission-line strengths in nearby blue galaxies thus resemble those found in faint galaxies at moderate-to-high redshifts. The most actively star-forming nearby galaxies are characterized by surface brightness in the forbidden O II line of about 10 to the -15th to 10 to the -14th ergs/s per sq cm per sq arcsec over spatial distances of more than 1 kpc. The fluxes of the forbidden O II and H-beta emission lines are well correlated, and thus forbidden O II luminosities can be used to derive approximate star-formation rates in blue galaxies. 41 references.
Research Organization:
Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ (USA); NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6063336
Journal Information:
Astron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astron. J.; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN ANJOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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