A technique for estimation of starburst masses and ages in luminous compact galaxies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a rapid method to estimate starburst masses and ages in luminous compact galaxies using emission line and UV continuum luminosities, avoiding complex spectral energy distribution fitting.

Contribution

The paper presents a new technique that quickly estimates starburst masses and ages in large galaxy samples without requiring detailed SED fitting.

Findings

Estimated masses and ages closely match SED fitting results

Average differences in log mass and age are 0.27 and 0.87 Myr

Method enables efficient galaxy selection based on starburst parameters

Abstract

We propose a technique for estimation of the mass m of the young stellar population and the starburst age T in luminous compact galaxies (LCGs). For this purpose we use LCG H{\alpha} emission line luminosities from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectra and Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) FUV and NUV continuum luminosities. The method is intended for quick estimation of m and T in large galaxy samples and does not require spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. Estimated m and T for the sample of about 550 LCGs are compared with the same values derived from the SED fitting in the wavelength range \lambda\lambda 3800 -- 9200\AA. We obtain the average differences in log m and T of 0.27 and 0.87 Myr, respectively. This technique could be used for selection of galaxies with desired ranges of m and T or for reducing a range of parameter variations in SED fitting.