Star-Formation Rates of Galaxies

A comprehensive presentation of the diverse methods used to measure star-formation activity in galaxies, for students and researchers.

Andreas Zezas (Edited by), Véronique Buat (Edited by)

9781107184169, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 April 2021

400 pages
17.5 x 25 x 2 cm, 0.69 kg

'The language of chapters is uniformly aimed at the graduate and advanced undergraduate level, assuming familiarity with standard astrophysics terminology and at least a basic understanding of stellar evolution. Libraries supporting readers at this level will want to acquire this volume … Highly recommended.' T. Barker, Choice Magazine

Star-formation is one of the key processes that shape the current state and evolution of galaxies. This volume provides a comprehensive presentation of the different methods used to measure the intensity of recent or on-going star-forming activity in galaxies, discussing their advantages and complications in detail. It includes a thorough overview of the theoretical underpinnings of star-formation rate indicators, including topics such as stellar evolution and stellar spectra, the stellar initial mass function, and the physical conditions in the interstellar medium. The authors bring together in one place detailed and comparative discussions of traditional and new star-formation rate indicators, star-formation rate measurements in different spatial scales, and comparisons of star-formation rate indicators probing different stellar populations, along with the corresponding theoretical background. This is a useful reference for students and researchers working in the field of extragalactic astrophysics and studying star-formation in local and higher-redshift galaxies.

Preface. Part I. Background: 1. Introduction S. Boissier and G. Rodighiero
2. The initial mass function of stars and the star-formation rates of galaxies P. Kroupa and T. Jerabkova
3. Stellar populations, stellar evolution and stellar atmospheres J. J. Eldridge and E. R. Stanway
4. Dust extinction, attenuation, and emission K. D. Gordon
Part II. SFR Measurements: 5. Star-formation rates from resolved stellar populations J. S. Gallagher, A. Cole and E. Sabbi
6. Star-formation measurements in nearby galaxies D. Calzetti
7. Continuum and emission-line star formation rate indicators M. Boquien and D. Dale
8. Star-formation rates from spectral energy distributions of galaxies D. Burgarella
9. Modelling the spectral energy distribution of star-forming galaxies with radiative transfer methods C. Popescu
10. Measuring the star-formation rate in active galactic nuclei B. Groves
11. High-energy star-formation rate indicators A. Zezas
Index.

Subject Areas: Galaxies & stars [PGM], Astronomy, space & time [PG], Mathematics & science [P]