2010ApJ...709..424M -
Astrophys. J., 709, 424-435 (2010/January-3)
Star formation in massive clusters via the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe and the Spitzer GLIMPSE survey.
MURRAY N. and RAHMAN M.
Abstract (from CDS):
We use the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) maximum entropy method foreground emission map combined with previously determined distances to giant H II regions to measure the free-free flux at Earth and the free-free luminosity of the Galaxy. We find a total flux fν= 54, 211 Jy and a flux from 88 sources of fν= 36, 043 Jy. The bulk of the sources are at least marginally resolved, with mean radii ∼60 pc, electron density ne∼ 9/cm3, and filling factor φ_H ii~0.005 (over the Galactic gas disk). The total dust-corrected ionizing photon luminosity is Q = 3.2x1053±5.1x1052 photons/s, in good agreement with previous estimates. We use GLIMPSE and Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) 8 µm images to show that the bulk of the free-free luminosity is associated with bubbles having radii r ∼ 5-100 pc, with a mean of ∼20 pc. These bubbles are leaky, so that ionizing photons emitted inside the bubble escape and excite free-free emission beyond the bubble walls, producing WMAP sources that are larger than the 8 µm bubbles. We suggest that the WMAP sources are the counterparts of the extended low density H II regions described by Mezger. The 18 most luminous WMAP sources emit half the total Galactic ionizing flux. These 18 sources have 4x1051/s ≲ Q ≲ 1.6x1052/s, corresponding to 6x104 M☉≲ M*≲ 2x105 M☉; half to two thirds of this will be in the central massive star cluster. We convert the measurement of Q to a Galactic star formation rate (SFR) {dot}M_*=1.3±0.2 M_☉ yr^-1, where the errors reflect only the error in free-free luminosity. We point out, however, that our inferred {dot}M_* is highly dependent on the exponent Γ≈ 1.35 of the high-mass end of the stellar initial mass function. For 1.21 < Γ < 1.5, we find {0.9 M_☉ yr^{-1}<{dot}M*<2.2 M☉ yr^{-1}}. We also determine a SFR of 0.14 M☉/yr for the Large Magellanic Cloud and 0.015 M☉/yr for the Small Magellanic Cloud.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
Galaxy: fundamental parameters - H II regions - ISM: bubbles - stars: formation
VizieR on-line data:
<Available at CDS (J/ApJ/709/424): table2.dat>
Nomenclature:
Table 2: [MR2010] GLLL.l+BB.b N=87.
Status at CDS
:
All or part of tables of objects could be ingested in SIMBAD with priority 2.
Simbad objects:
203
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