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arXiv · 1302.1858

Testing 24 micron and Infrared Luminosity as Star Formation Tracers for Galactic Star Forming Regions

Nalin Vutisalchavakul·Neal J. Evans II
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Abstract

We have tested some relations for star formation rates used in extra-galactic studies for regions within the Galaxy. In nearby molecular clouds, where the IMF is not fully-sampled, the dust emission at 24 micron greatly underestimates star formation rates (by a factor of 100 on average) when compared to star formation rates determined from counting YSOs. The total infrared emission does no better. In contrast, the total far-infrared method agrees within a factor of 2 on average with star formation rates based on radio continuum emission for massive, dense clumps that are forming enough massive stars to have the total infrared luminosity exceed 10^4.5 Lsun. The total infrared and 24 micron also agree well with each other for both nearby, low-mass star forming regions and the massive, dense clumps regions.

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Nalin Vutisalchavakul, Neal J. Evans II. 2013-02-07. Testing 24 micron and Infrared Luminosity as Star Formation Tracers for Galactic Star Forming Regions. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/765/2/129

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