Star Formation Rate Indicators

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent progress in understanding and calibrating star formation rate indicators using extensive data from ground-based and space-based surveys, focusing on their application at various scales.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of advancements in star formation rate indicators, emphasizing calibration and application at sub-galactic scales.

Findings

Extensive survey data have improved indicator calibration.

Infrared and ultraviolet observations enhance understanding of star formation.

Indicators are now applicable at smaller, sub-galactic scales.

Abstract

What else can be said about star formation rate indicators that has not been said already many times over? The `coming of age' of large ground-based surveys and the unprecedented sensitivity, angular resolution and/or field-of-view of infrared and ultraviolet space missions have provided extensive, homogeneous data on both nearby and distant galaxies, which have been used to further our understanding of the strengths and pitfalls of many common star formation rate indicators. The synergy between these surveys has also enabled the calibration of indicators for use on scales that are comparable to those of star-forming regions, thus much smaller than an entire galaxy. These are being used to investigate star formation processes at the sub-galactic scale. I review progress in the field over the past decade or so.