The MOSDEF Survey: The Dependence of H$\alpha$-to-UV SFR Ratios on SFR and Size at $z\sim 2$

Abstract

We perform an aperture-matched analysis of dust-corrected H$\alpha$ and UV SFRs using 303 star-forming galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts $1.36<z_{\text{spec}}<2.66$ from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey. By combining H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ emission line measurements with multi-waveband resolved CANDELS/3D-HST imaging, we directly compare dust-corrected H$\alpha$ and UV SFRs, inferred assuming a fixed attenuation curve shape and constant SFHs, within the spectroscopic aperture. Previous studies have found that H$\alpha$ and UV SFRs inferred with these assumptions generally agree for typical star-forming galaxies, but become increasingly discrepant for galaxies with higher SFRs ($\gtrsim$100 M${}_{\odot }$ yr${}^{-1}$), with H$\alpha$-to-UV SFR ratios being larger for these galaxies. Our analysis shows that this trend persists even after carefully accounting for the apertures over which H$\alpha$ and UV-based SFRs (and the nebular and stellar continuum reddening) are derived. Furthermore, our results imply that H$\alpha$ SFRs may be higher in the centers of large galaxies (i.e., where there is coverage by the spectroscopic aperture) compared to their outskirts, which could be indicative of inside-out galaxy growth. Overall, we suggest that the persistent difference between nebular and stellar continuum reddening and high H$\alpha$-to-UV SFR ratios at the centers of large galaxies may be indicative of a patchier distribution of dust in galaxies with high SFRs.

15 pages, 7 figures, accepted to MNRAS

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• A spatially resolved analysis of star-formation burstiness by comparing UV and H$\alpha$ in galaxies at z$\sim$1 with UVCANDELS
• MOSEL Survey: Extremely weak outflows in EoR analogues at z=3-4
• Exploring the Correlation between $\mathrm{H}\alpha$-to-UV Ratio and Burstiness for Typical Star-forming Galaxies at $z\sim 2$
• The JWST/AURORA Survey: Multiple Balmer and Paschen Emission Lines for Individual Star-forming Galaxies at z=1.5-4.4. I. A Diversity of Nebular Attenuation Curves and Evidence for Non-Unity Dust Covering Fractions
• The MOSDEF Survey: Probing Resolved Stellar Populations at $z\sim 2$ Using a New Bayesian-defined Morphology Metric Called Patchiness