GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

D. B. Wijesinghe; E. Da Cunha; Andrew M. Hopkins; L. Dunne; Robert G. Sharp; M. Gunawardhana; Sarah Brough; E. M. Sadler; Simon P. Driver; Ivan K. Baldry; Steven P. Bamford; Jochen Liske; Jon Loveday; Peder Norberg; John A. Peacock; Cristina C. Popescu; Richard J. Tuffs; Ellen Andrae; R. Auld; M. Baes; Joss Bland-Hawthorn; S. Buttiglione; A. Cava; Ewan Cameron; Christopher J. Conselice; Asantha Cooray; Scott M. Croom; A. Dariush; G. Dezotti; Simon Dye; S. Eales; Carlos S. Frenk; J. Fritz; David T. Hill; R. Hopwood; E. Ibar; R. Ivison; Matt J. Jarvis; David Heath Jones; Eelco Van Kampen; Lee S. Kelvin; Konrad Kuijken; S. J. Maddox; Barry F. Madore; M. J. Michalowski; Robert C. Nichol; Hannah R. Parkinson; E. Pascale; Kevin A. Pimbblet; M. Pohlen; Matthew Prescott; G. Rhodighiero; Aaron S. G. Robotham; Emma E. Rigby; Mark Seibert; S. Sergeant; Daniel J. B. Smith; P. Temi; Will J. Sutherland; Edward N. Taylor; Daniel Thomas; P. Van Der Werf

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

D. B. Wijesinghe, E. Da Cunha, Andrew M. Hopkins, L. Dunne, Robert G. Sharp, M. Gunawardhana, Sarah Brough, E. M. Sadler, Simon P. Driver, Ivan K. Baldry, Steven P. Bamford, Jochen Liske, Jon Loveday, Peder Norberg, John A. Peacock, Cristina C. Popescu, Richard J. Tuffs, Ellen Andrae, R. Auld, M. BaesJoss Bland-Hawthorn, S. Buttiglione, A. Cava, Ewan Cameron, Christopher J. Conselice, Asantha Cooray, Scott M. Croom, A. Dariush, G. Dezotti, Simon Dye, S. Eales, Carlos S. Frenk, J. Fritz, David T. Hill, R. Hopwood, E. Ibar, R. Ivison, Matt J. Jarvis, David Heath Jones, Eelco Van Kampen, Lee S. Kelvin, Konrad Kuijken, S. J. Maddox, Barry F. Madore, M. J. Michalowski, Robert C. Nichol, Hannah R. Parkinson, E. Pascale, Kevin A. Pimbblet, M. Pohlen, Matthew Prescott, G. Rhodighiero, Aaron S. G. Robotham, Emma E. Rigby, Mark Seibert, S. Sergeant, Daniel J. B. Smith, P. Temi, Will J. Sutherland, Edward N. Taylor, Daniel Thomas, P. Van Der Werf

Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation

University of Hertfordshire

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Abstract

We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies.We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, β, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far-ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the β parameter, and that β may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using β, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between β and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and β parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on β for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1002-1012
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	415
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2011

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10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

MNRAS-2011-Wijesinghe-1002-12Final published version, 1.29 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-SA

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Wijesinghe, D. B., Da Cunha, E., Hopkins, A. M., Dunne, L., Sharp, R. G., Gunawardhana, M., Brough, S., Sadler, E. M., Driver, S. P., Baldry, I. K., Bamford, S. P., Liske, J., Loveday, J., Norberg, P., Peacock, J. A., Popescu, C. C., Tuffs, R. J., Andrae, E., Auld, R., ... Van Der Werf, P. (2011). GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 415(2), 1002-1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

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title = "GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies",

abstract = "We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies.We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, β, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far-ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the β parameter, and that β may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using β, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between β and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and β parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on β for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.",

author = "Wijesinghe, {D. B.} and {Da Cunha}, E. and Hopkins, {Andrew M.} and L. Dunne and Sharp, {Robert G.} and M. Gunawardhana and Sarah Brough and Sadler, {E. M.} and Driver, {Simon P.} and Baldry, {Ivan K.} and Bamford, {Steven P.} and Jochen Liske and Jon Loveday and Peder Norberg and Peacock, {John A.} and Popescu, {Cristina C.} and Tuffs, {Richard J.} and Ellen Andrae and R. Auld and M. Baes and Joss Bland-Hawthorn and S. Buttiglione and A. Cava and Ewan Cameron and Conselice, {Christopher J.} and Asantha Cooray and Croom, {Scott M.} and A. Dariush and G. Dezotti and Simon Dye and S. Eales and Frenk, {Carlos S.} and J. Fritz and Hill, {David T.} and R. Hopwood and E. Ibar and R. Ivison and Jarvis, {Matt J.} and Jones, {David Heath} and {Van Kampen}, Eelco and Kelvin, {Lee S.} and Konrad Kuijken and Maddox, {S. J.} and Madore, {Barry F.} and Michalowski, {M. J.} and Nichol, {Robert C.} and Parkinson, {Hannah R.} and E. Pascale and Pimbblet, {Kevin A.} and M. Pohlen and Matthew Prescott and G. Rhodighiero and Robotham, {Aaron S. G.} and Rigby, {Emma E.} and Mark Seibert and S. Sergeant and Smith, {Daniel J. B.} and P. Temi and Sutherland, {Will J.} and Taylor, {Edward N.} and Daniel Thomas and {Van Der Werf}, P.",

year = "2011",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x",

language = "English",

volume = "415",

pages = "1002--1012",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "2",

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Wijesinghe, DB, Da Cunha, E, Hopkins, AM, Dunne, L, Sharp, RG, Gunawardhana, M, Brough, S, Sadler, EM, Driver, SP, Baldry, IK, Bamford, SP, Liske, J, Loveday, J, Norberg, P, Peacock, JA, Popescu, CC, Tuffs, RJ, Andrae, E, Auld, R, Baes, M, Bland-Hawthorn, J, Buttiglione, S, Cava, A, Cameron, E, Conselice, CJ, Cooray, A, Croom, SM, Dariush, A, Dezotti, G, Dye, S, Eales, S, Frenk, CS, Fritz, J, Hill, DT, Hopwood, R, Ibar, E, Ivison, R, Jarvis, MJ, Jones, DH, Van Kampen, E, Kelvin, LS, Kuijken, K, Maddox, SJ, Madore, BF, Michalowski, MJ, Nichol, RC, Parkinson, HR, Pascale, E, Pimbblet, KA, Pohlen, M, Prescott, M, Rhodighiero, G, Robotham, ASG, Rigby, EE, Seibert, M, Sergeant, S, Smith, DJB, Temi, P, Sutherland, WJ, Taylor, EN, Thomas, D & Van Der Werf, P 2011, 'GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 415, no. 2, pp. 1002-1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

TY - JOUR

T1 - GAMA/H-ATLAS

T2 - the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

AU - Wijesinghe, D. B.

AU - Da Cunha, E.

AU - Hopkins, Andrew M.

AU - Dunne, L.

AU - Sharp, Robert G.

AU - Gunawardhana, M.

AU - Brough, Sarah

AU - Sadler, E. M.

AU - Driver, Simon P.

AU - Baldry, Ivan K.

AU - Bamford, Steven P.

AU - Liske, Jochen

AU - Loveday, Jon

AU - Norberg, Peder

AU - Peacock, John A.

AU - Popescu, Cristina C.

AU - Tuffs, Richard J.

AU - Andrae, Ellen

AU - Auld, R.

AU - Baes, M.

AU - Bland-Hawthorn, Joss

AU - Buttiglione, S.

AU - Cava, A.

AU - Cameron, Ewan

AU - Conselice, Christopher J.

AU - Cooray, Asantha

AU - Croom, Scott M.

AU - Dariush, A.

AU - Dezotti, G.

AU - Dye, Simon

AU - Eales, S.

AU - Frenk, Carlos S.

AU - Fritz, J.

AU - Hill, David T.

AU - Hopwood, R.

AU - Ibar, E.

AU - Ivison, R.

AU - Jarvis, Matt J.

AU - Jones, David Heath

AU - Van Kampen, Eelco

AU - Kelvin, Lee S.

AU - Kuijken, Konrad

AU - Maddox, S. J.

AU - Madore, Barry F.

AU - Michalowski, M. J.

AU - Nichol, Robert C.

AU - Parkinson, Hannah R.

AU - Pascale, E.

AU - Pimbblet, Kevin A.

AU - Pohlen, M.

AU - Prescott, Matthew

AU - Rhodighiero, G.

AU - Robotham, Aaron S. G.

AU - Rigby, Emma E.

AU - Seibert, Mark

AU - Sergeant, S.

AU - Smith, Daniel J. B.

AU - Temi, P.

AU - Sutherland, Will J.

AU - Taylor, Edward N.

AU - Thomas, Daniel

AU - Van Der Werf, P.

PY - 2011/8/1

Y1 - 2011/8/1

N2 - We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies.We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, β, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far-ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the β parameter, and that β may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using β, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between β and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and β parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on β for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.

AB - We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies.We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, β, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far-ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the β parameter, and that β may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using β, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between β and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and β parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on β for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

M3 - Article

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 415

SP - 1002

EP - 1012

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 2

ER -

GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

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