Star formation

About: Star formation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 37405 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1808161 citations. The topic is also known as: astrogenesis.

A SURVEY OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES IN THE 1.4 z 2.5 REDSHIFT DESERT: OVERVIEW

Abstract: The redshift interval 1.4 z 2.5 has been described by some as the "redshift desert" because of historical difficulties in spectroscopically identifying galaxies in that range. In fact, galaxies can be found in large numbers with standard broadband color selection techniques coupled with follow-up spectroscopy with UV and blue-sensitive spectrographs. In this paper we present the first results of a large-scale survey of such objects, carried out with the blue channel of the LRIS spectrograph (LRIS-B) on the Keck I Telescope. We introduce two samples of star-forming galaxies, "BX" galaxies at z = 2.20 ± 0.32 and "BM" galaxies at z = 1.70 ± 0.34. In seven survey fields we have spectroscopically confirmed 749 of the former and 114 of the latter. Interlopers (defined as objects at z < 1) account for less than 10% of the photometric candidates, and the fraction of faint active galactic nuclei is ~3% in the combined BX/BM sample. Deep near-IR photometry of a subset of the BX sample indicates that, compared with a sample of similarly UV-selected galaxies at z ~ 3, the z ~ 2 galaxies are on average significantly redder in (-Ks), indicating longer star formation histories, increased reddening by dust, or both. Using near-IR Hα spectra of a subset of BX/BM galaxies to define the galaxies' systemic redshifts, we show that the galactic-scale winds that are a feature of star-forming galaxies at z ~ 3 are also common at later epochs and have similar bulk outflow speeds of 200-300 km s-1. We illustrate with examples the information that can be deduced on the stellar populations, metallicities, and kinematics of redshift desert galaxies from easily accessible rest-frame far-UV and rest-frame optical spectra. Far from being hostile to observations, the universe at z ~ 2 is uniquely suited to providing information on the astrophysics of star-forming galaxies and the intergalactic medium, and the relationship between the two.

High mass x-ray binaries as a star formation rate indicator in distant galaxies

Abstract: Based on Chandra and ASCA observations of nearby starburst galaxies and RXTE/ASM, ASCA and MIR-KVANT/TTM studies of high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) populations in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, we propose that the number and/or the collective X-ray luminosity of HMXBs can be used to measure the star formation rate (SFR) of a galaxy. We show that, within the accuracy of the presently available data, a linear relation between HMXB number and star formation rate exists. The relation between SFR and collective luminosity of HMXBs is non-linear in the low-SFR regime, L X ∝ SFR ∼1.7 , and becomes linear only for a sufficiently

The 2-10 keV luminosity as a Star Formation Rate indicator

Abstract: Radio and far infrared luminosities of star-forming galaxies follow a tight linear relation. Making use of ASCA and BeppoSAX observations of a well-defined sample of nearby star-forming galaxies, we argue that tight linear relations hold between the X-ray, radio and far infrared luminosities. The effect of intrinsic absorption is investigated taking NGC3256 as a test case. It is suggested that the hard X-ray emission is directly related to the Star Formation Rate. Star formation processes may also account for most of the 2-10 keV emission from LLAGNs of lower X-ray luminosities (for the same FIRand radio luminosity). Deep Chandra observations of a sample of radio-selected star-forming galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field North show that the same relation holds also at high (0.2 < z < 1.3) redshift. The X-ray/radio relations also allow a derivation of X-ray number counts up to very faint fluxes from the radio Log N-Log S, which is consistent with current limits and models. Thus the contribution of star-forming galaxies to the X-ray background can be estimated.

Double Compact Objects. I. The Significance of the Common Envelope on Merger Rates

Abstract: The last decade of observational and theoretical developments in stellar and binary evolution provides an opportunity to incorporate major improvements to the predictions from population synthesis models. We compute the Galactic merger rates for NS-NS, BH-NS, and BH-BH mergers with the StarTrack code. The most important revisions include updated wind mass-loss rates (allowing for stellar-mass black holes up to 80 M {sub Sun }), a realistic treatment of the common envelope phase (a process that can affect merger rates by 2-3 orders of magnitude), and a qualitatively new neutron star/black hole mass distribution (consistent with the observed {sup m}ass gap{sup )}. Our findings include the following. (1) The binding energy of the envelope plays a pivotal role in determining whether a binary merges within a Hubble time. (2) Our description of natal kicks from supernovae plays an important role, especially for the formation of BH-BH systems. (3) The masses of BH-BH systems can be substantially increased in the case of low metallicities or weak winds. (4) Certain combinations of parameters underpredict the Galactic NS-NS merger rate and can be ruled out. (5) Models incorporating delayed supernovae do not agree with the observed NS/BH 'mass gap', in accordance with our previousmore » work. This is the first in a series of three papers. The second paper will study the merger rates of double compact objects as a function of redshift, star formation rate, and metallicity. In the third paper, we will present the detection rates for gravitational-wave observatories, using up-to-date signal waveforms and sensitivity curves.« less

Synthetic properties of starburst galaxies

Abstract: We present the results of an extensive grid of evolutionary synthesis models for populations of massive stars. The parameter space has been chosen to correspond to conditions typically found in objects like giant H II regions, H II galaxies, blue compact dwarf galaxies, nuclear starbursts, and infrared luminous starburst galaxies. The models are based on the most up-to-date input physics for the theory of stellar atmospheres, stellar winds, and stellar evolution. A population of massive stars is not only important in terms of its output of radiation but also via its deposition of mechanical energy. The output of radiative and mechanical luminosity is compared at various starburst epochs. In a supernova dominated instantaneous starburst, the mechanical luminosity can be as large as almost 10% of the total radiative luminosity. This occurs when most massive O stars have disappeared, and the synthetic spectrum in the optical and near-ultraviolet is dominated by B and A stars. During this epoch, the output of ionizing radiation below 912 A becomes very small, as indicated by a very large Lyman discontinuity and a very small ratio of ionizing over mechanical luminosity. We discuss the relevance of these results for the interpretation of starburst galaxies, active galactic nuclei, and the energetics of the interstellar medium.