Star formation rate from dust infrared emission

Akio K. Inoue

doi:10.1086/341128

Star formation rate from dust infrared emission

Akio K. Inoue^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We examine what types of galaxies the conversion formula from dust infrared (IR) luminosity into the star formation rate (SFR) derived by R. C. Kennicutt is applicable to. The ratio of the observed IR luminosity, L _IR, to the intrinsic bolometric luminosity of the newly (≲ 10 Myr) formed stars, L_SF, of a galaxy can be determined by a mean dust opacity in the interstellar medium and the activity of the current star formation. We find that the area given by these parameters, 0.5 ≤ L _IR/L_SF ≤ 2.0, is very large, and many nearby normal and active starforming galaxies really fall in this area. It results from offsetting two effects of a small dust opacity and a large cirrus contribution of normal galaxies relative to starburst galaxies on the conversion of the stellar emission into the dust IR emission. In conclusion, the SFR determined from the IR luminosity under the assumption of L_IR = L_SF, like Kennicutt's, is reliable within a factor of 2 for all galaxies except for dust-rich but quiescent galaxies and extremely dust-poor galaxies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L97-L100
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	570
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/341128
Publication status	Published - 2002 May 10
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Dust, extinction
Galaxies: general
Infrared: galaxies
Stars: formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/341128

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title = "Star formation rate from dust infrared emission",

abstract = "We examine what types of galaxies the conversion formula from dust infrared (IR) luminosity into the star formation rate (SFR) derived by R. C. Kennicutt is applicable to. The ratio of the observed IR luminosity, L IR, to the intrinsic bolometric luminosity of the newly (≲ 10 Myr) formed stars, LSF, of a galaxy can be determined by a mean dust opacity in the interstellar medium and the activity of the current star formation. We find that the area given by these parameters, 0.5 ≤ L IR/LSF ≤ 2.0, is very large, and many nearby normal and active starforming galaxies really fall in this area. It results from offsetting two effects of a small dust opacity and a large cirrus contribution of normal galaxies relative to starburst galaxies on the conversion of the stellar emission into the dust IR emission. In conclusion, the SFR determined from the IR luminosity under the assumption of LIR = LSF, like Kennicutt's, is reliable within a factor of 2 for all galaxies except for dust-rich but quiescent galaxies and extremely dust-poor galaxies.",

keywords = "Dust, extinction, Galaxies: general, Infrared: galaxies, Stars: formation",

author = "Inoue, {Akio K.}",

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AU - Inoue, Akio K.

PY - 2002/5/10

Y1 - 2002/5/10

N2 - We examine what types of galaxies the conversion formula from dust infrared (IR) luminosity into the star formation rate (SFR) derived by R. C. Kennicutt is applicable to. The ratio of the observed IR luminosity, L IR, to the intrinsic bolometric luminosity of the newly (≲ 10 Myr) formed stars, LSF, of a galaxy can be determined by a mean dust opacity in the interstellar medium and the activity of the current star formation. We find that the area given by these parameters, 0.5 ≤ L IR/LSF ≤ 2.0, is very large, and many nearby normal and active starforming galaxies really fall in this area. It results from offsetting two effects of a small dust opacity and a large cirrus contribution of normal galaxies relative to starburst galaxies on the conversion of the stellar emission into the dust IR emission. In conclusion, the SFR determined from the IR luminosity under the assumption of LIR = LSF, like Kennicutt's, is reliable within a factor of 2 for all galaxies except for dust-rich but quiescent galaxies and extremely dust-poor galaxies.

AB - We examine what types of galaxies the conversion formula from dust infrared (IR) luminosity into the star formation rate (SFR) derived by R. C. Kennicutt is applicable to. The ratio of the observed IR luminosity, L IR, to the intrinsic bolometric luminosity of the newly (≲ 10 Myr) formed stars, LSF, of a galaxy can be determined by a mean dust opacity in the interstellar medium and the activity of the current star formation. We find that the area given by these parameters, 0.5 ≤ L IR/LSF ≤ 2.0, is very large, and many nearby normal and active starforming galaxies really fall in this area. It results from offsetting two effects of a small dust opacity and a large cirrus contribution of normal galaxies relative to starburst galaxies on the conversion of the stellar emission into the dust IR emission. In conclusion, the SFR determined from the IR luminosity under the assumption of LIR = LSF, like Kennicutt's, is reliable within a factor of 2 for all galaxies except for dust-rich but quiescent galaxies and extremely dust-poor galaxies.

KW - Dust, extinction

KW - Galaxies: general

KW - Infrared: galaxies

KW - Stars: formation

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U2 - 10.1086/341128

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JF - Astrophysical Journal

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Star formation rate from dust infrared emission

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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