Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-06-30
Astrophys.J.599:971-991,2003
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted for publication in ApJ, 40 pages, 26 figures
Scientific paper
10.1086/379608
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) first data release provides a database of 106000 unique galaxies in the main galaxy sample with measured spectra. A sample of star-forming (SF) galaxies are identified from among the 3079 of these having 1.4 GHz luminosities from FIRST, by using optical spectral diagnostics. Using 1.4 GHz luminosities as a reference star formation rate (SFR) estimator insensitive to obscuration effects, the SFRs derived from the measured SDSS Halpha, [OII] and u-band luminosities, as well as far-infrared luminosities from IRAS, are compared. It is established that straightforward corrections for obscuration and aperture effects reliably bring the SDSS emission line and photometric SFR estimates into agreement with those at 1.4 GHz, although considerable scatter (~60%) remains in the relations. It thus appears feasible to perform detailed investigations of star formation for large and varied samples of SF galaxies through the available spectroscopic and photometric measurements from the SDSS. We provide herein exact prescriptions for determining the SFR for SDSS galaxies. The expected strong correlation between [OII] and Halpha line fluxes for SF galaxies is seen, but with a median line flux ratio F_[OII]/F_Halpha=0.23, about a factor of two smaller than that found in the sample of Kennicutt (1992). This correlation, used in deriving the [OII] SFRs, is consistent with the luminosity-dependent relation found by Jansen et al. (2001). The median obscuration for the SDSS SF systems is found to be A_Halpha=1.2 mag, while for the radio detected sample the median obscuration is notably higher, 1.6 mag, and with a broader distribution.
Bernardi Marco
Brinkmann John
Connolly Andrew J.
Gomez Percy L.
Goto Tomotsugu
No associations
LandOfFree
Star formation rate indicators in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Star formation rate indicators in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Star formation rate indicators in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-186140