SCUSS u-Band Emission as a Star-Formation-Rate Indicator

Abstract

We present and analyze the possibility of using optical $u$-band luminosities to estimate star-formation rates (SFRs) of galaxies based on the data from the South Galactic Cap $u$ band Sky Survey (SCUSS), which provides a deep $u$-band photometric survey covering about 5000 $de{g}^2$ of the South Galactic Cap. Based on two samples of normal star-forming galaxies selected by the BPT diagram, we explore the correlations between $u$-band, H$\alpha$, and IR luminosities by combing SCUSS data with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and $Wide$-$fieldInfraredSurveyExplorer$ ($WISE$). The attenuation-corrected $u$-band luminosities are tightly correlated with the Balmer decrement-corrected H$\alpha$ luminosities with an rms scatter of $\sim$ 0.17 dex. The IR-corrected $u$ luminosities are derived based on the correlations between the attenuation of $u$-band luminosities and $WISE$ 12 (or 22) $\mu$m luminosities, and then calibrated with the Balmer-corrected H$\alpha$ luminosities. The systematic residuals of these calibrations are tested against the physical properties over the ranges covered by our sample objects. We find that the best-fitting nonlinear relations are better than the linear ones and recommended to be applied in the measurement of SFRs. The systematic deviations mainly come from the pollution of old stellar population and the effect of dust extinction; therefore, a more detailed analysis is needed in the future work.

arXiv comment10 pages, 11 figures, 1 table; accepted for publication in ApJ

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