The Hα Luminosity Function and Global Star Formation Rate from Redshifts of 1-2

July 1999 • 1999ApJ...519L..47Y

Authors • Yan, Lin • McCarthy, Patrick J. • Freudling, Wolfram • Teplitz, Harry I. • Malumuth, Eliot M. • Weymann, Ray J. • Malkan, Matthew A.

Abstract • We present a luminosity function for Hα emission from galaxies at redshifts between 0.7 and 1.9 based on slitless spectroscopy with the near-infrared camera and multiobject spectrometer on the Hubble Space Telescope. The luminosity function is well fit by a Schechter function over the range 6×10⁴¹<L(Hα)<2×10⁴³ ergs s^-1 with L^*=7×10⁴² ergs s^-1 and φ^*=1.7×10^-3 Mpc^-3 for H₀=50 km s^-1 Mpc^-1 and q₀=0.5. We derive a volume-averaged star formation rate at z=1.3+/-0.5 of 0.13 M_solar yr^-1 Mpc^-3 without correction for extinction. The star formation rate that we derive at ~6500 Å is a factor of 3 higher than that deduced from 2800 Å continua. If this difference is caused entirely by reddening, the extinction correction at 2800 Å is quite significant. The precise magnitude of the total extinction correction at rest-frame UV wavelengths (e.g., 2800 and 1500 Å) is sensitive to the relative spatial distribution of the stars, gas, and dust, as well as to the extinction law. In the extreme case of a homogeneous foreground dust screen and a Milky Way or LMC extinction law, we derive a total extinction at 2800 Å of 2.1 mag, or a factor of 7 correction to the UV luminosity density. If we use the Calzetti reddening curve, which was derived for the model in which stars, gas, and dust are well mixed and nebular gas suffers more extinction than stars, our estimate of A₂₈₀₀ is increased by more than 1 mag.

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Harry Teplitz

Senior Scientist