Comparison of Star Formation Rate estimations from $H_{\alpha}$, FIR and radio data

Abstract

We used three indicators of massive star formation: $H_{\alpha}$, FIR and non-thermal radio luminosities, to compare estimations of Star Formation Rate (SFR) for the sample of 34 spiral galaxies. To adjust SFR values, obtained from different indicators, we considered the slope $\alpha$ and/or upper mass limit $M_{up}$ of Initial Mass Function (IMF) as free parameters. The best agreement between these indicators reaches for $M_{up} \approx 60 - 100 ~M_{\odot}$ and $\alpha \approx -3.1 $ in the high mass end of IMF ($M > 10 ~M_{\odot}$). Parallel with SFR we also estimated FIR excess $X_{FIR}$ defined as a fraction of the observed FIR which is not related to young massive stars directly. $X_{FIR}$ is found to be well correlated with types of spiral galaxies and their colors (B-V): the redder a galaxy the higher is its FIR excess. We conclude that for any parameters of IMF the observed FIR flux of early type spiral galaxies needs the additional source of energy but the massive star radiation.