MNRAS-2012-Wilkins-1522-9.pdf (820.46 kB)
Predictions for the intrinsic UV continuum properties of star-forming galaxies and the implications for inferring dust extinction
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 14:47 authored by Stephen WilkinsStephen Wilkins, Violeta Gonzalez-Perez, Cedric G Lacey, Carlton M BaughThe observed ultraviolet continuum (UVC) slope is potentially a powerful diagnostic of dust obscuration in star-forming galaxies. However, the intrinsic slope is also sensitive to the form of the stellar initial mass function and to the recent star formation and metal enrichment histories of a galaxy. Using the GALFORM semi-analytical model of galaxy formation, we investigate the intrinsic distribution of UVC slopes. For star-forming galaxies, we find that the intrinsic distribution of UVC slopes at z= 0, parametrized by the power-law index ß, has a standard deviation of sß? 0.30. This suggests an uncertainty on the inferred ultraviolet (UV) attenuation of Afuv? 0.7 (assuming a Calzetti attenuation curve) for an individual object, even with perfect photometry. Furthermore, we find that the intrinsic UVC slope correlates with star formation rate, intrinsic UV luminosity, stellar mass and redshift. These correlations have implications for the interpretation of trends in the observed UVC slope with these quantities irrespective of the sample size or quality of the photometry. Our results suggest that in some cases the attenuation by dust has been incorrectly estimated.
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- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyISSN
0035-8711Publisher
Wiley-BlackwellExternal DOI
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2Volume
424Page range
1522-1529Department affiliated with
- Physics and Astronomy Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2013-04-26First Open Access (FOA) Date
2016-03-22First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2016-11-16Usage metrics
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