Star-Formation Rates of Galaxies

Description

Star-formation is one of the key processes that shape the current state and evolution of galaxies. This volume provides a comprehensive presentation of the different methods used to measure the intensity of recent or on-going star-forming activity in galaxies, discussing their advantages and complications in detail. It includes a thorough overview of the theoretical underpinnings of star-formation rate indicators, including topics such as stellar evolution and stellar spectra, the stellar initial mass function, and the physical conditions in the interstellar medium. The authors bring together in one place detailed and comparative discussions of traditional and new star-formation rate indicators, star-formation rate measurements in different spatial scales, and comparisons of star-formation rate indicators probing different stellar populations, along with the corresponding theoretical background. This is a useful reference for students and researchers working in the field of extragalactic astrophysics and studying star-formation in local and higher-redshift galaxies.

Andreas Zezas is Associate Professor at the University of Crete. He studies the X-ray emission from galaxies and its connection with their current and past star-forming activity. He has co-authored over 200 refereed publications and has been awarded an ERC Consolidator grant. Veronique Buat is Professor of Astrophysics at Aix-Marseille University and Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France. She works on large multi-wavelength galaxy surveys and develops models to study star formation and interstellar obscuration from the local to the distant universe.

'This is a technical but important compendium to anyone studying star formation in galaxies.' Marios Karouzos, Nature Astronomy '... if you want to know how to measure star formation (and why it is difficult), then this book can be recommended, both in itself and as an entry to the literature.' Steve Phillipps, The Observatory 'The language of chapters is uniformly aimed at the graduate and advanced undergraduate level, assuming familiarity with standard astrophysics terminology and at least a basic understanding of stellar evolution. Libraries supporting readers at this level will want to acquire this volume ... Highly recommended.' T. Barker, Choice Magazine