Calibrating [O 2]/Hα as a Star Formation Indicator
Abstract
Based on truly integrated spectrophotometry of a sample of ~ 300 galaxies we derive a new calibration of the [O 2]/Hα spectral ratio as a star formation indicator . Our study extends the analysis of Kennicutt (1992) and Jansen et. al. (2000) on the [O 2]/Hα ratio in morphologically normal galaxies to include a majority fraction of starburst and infrared luminous galaxies. Our results have direct application for deriving star formation rates from observations of [O 2] in high-redshift galaxies. Our broad spectral coverage (λ3600 -7000 Å) and insensitivity to aperture effects enable us to study the spatially integrated effects of excitation, metallicity, and extinction on [O 2]/Hα as a star-formation indicator. This research was funded by grants NSF AST-9900789 and NASA NAG5-8426.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #200
- Pub Date:
- May 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AAS...200.4301M