Bridging galactic star formation from intermediate to local epochs

Content Provider	Scilit
Author	Voyer, Elysse N. de Mello, Duilia F. Gardner, Jonathan P. Siana, Brian Teplitz, Harry
Copyright Year	2009
Description	Starburst galaxies trace the star-formation history of the Universe throughout cosmological time. Several studies have shown that the star-formation-rate density of the Universe begins to steadily decline after the Universe had aged ~ 5.8 Gyr (redshifts z ~ 1). However, we do not yet fully understand the mechanism behind this shift in star formation at intermediate z. One possibility is that during this epoch galaxies underwent ‘downsizing,’ a shift in star formation being dominated by high- to lower-mass galaxies. Rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) observations of starburst galaxies reveal regions of young stellar clusters where massive O and B stars dominate the luminosity. Observations in the FUV (~ 1500 Å) can be used to detect starburst galaxies at z < 1 because the bright end of the rest-frame FUV spectrum is not redshifted much, and is observable in the FUV filter. Alternatively, the rest-frame FUV light from starburst galaxies at higher redshifts is shifted to longer wavelengths and must be observed in redder filters. We present a study of the starburst population at intermediate z from FUV data taken with Hubble's Solar Blind Channel (SBC) of the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The number counts of FUV galaxies as a function of magnitude provide a direct statistical measure of the density and evolution of starbursts, and subsequently of the stellar clusters formed within these galaxies' environments. We present a comparison between the FUV starburst-galaxy counts at this epoch, and the local FUV counts of starbursts observed with GALEX.
Related Links	https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/F1C412296E7C2B99805C7391C78BDD03/S1743921309992031a.pdf/div-class-title-bridging-galactic-star-formation-from-intermediate-to-local-epochs-div.pdf
Ending Page	549
Page Count	1
Starting Page	549
ISSN	17439213
e-ISSN	17439221
DOI	10.1017/s1743921309992031
Journal	Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Issue Number	S266
Volume Number	5
Language	English
Publisher	Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publisher Date	2009-08-01
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union Astronomy and Astrophysics Evolution Starburst Statistics
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Astronomy and Astrophysics Space and Planetary Science