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Predictions for the intrinsic UV continuum properties of star-forming galaxies and the implications for inferring dust extinction

Wilkins, S.M.; Gonzalez-Perez, V.; Lacey, C.G.; Baugh, C.M.

Predictions for the intrinsic UV continuum properties of star-forming galaxies and the implications for inferring dust extinction Thumbnail


Authors

S.M. Wilkins

V. Gonzalez-Perez



Abstract

The 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 β, has a standard deviation of σβ≃ 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.

Citation

Wilkins, S., Gonzalez-Perez, V., Lacey, C., & Baugh, C. (2012). Predictions for the intrinsic UV continuum properties of star-forming galaxies and the implications for inferring dust extinction. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 424(2), 1522-1529. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21344.x

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Aug 1, 2012
Deposit Date Mar 27, 2013
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Print ISSN 0035-8711
Electronic ISSN 1365-2966
Publisher Royal Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 424
Issue 2
Pages 1522-1529
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21344.x
Keywords Galaxies: formation, Ultraviolet: galaxies.

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Copyright Statement
This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2012 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2012 RAS Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





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