Star Formation Rate Indicators in Wide-Field Infrared Survey Preliminary Release

With the goal of investigating the degree at which the MIR luminosity in the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) traces the SFR, we analyse 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 mu m data in a sample of similar to 140,000 star-forming galaxies or star-forming regions covering a wide range in metallicity 7.66 < 12 + log(O/H)< 9.46, with redshift z < 0.4. These star-forming galaxies or star-forming regions are selected by matching the WISE Preliminary Release Catalog with the star-forming galaxy Catalog in SDSS DR8 provided by JHU/MPA(1) . We study the relationship between the luminosity at 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 mu m from WISE and H alpha luminosity in SDSS DR8. From these comparisons, we derive reference SFR indicators for use in our analysis. Linear correlations between SFR and the 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 mu m luminosity are found, and calibrations of SFRs based on L(3.4), L(4.6), L(12) and L(22) are proposed. The calibrations hold for galaxies with verified spectral observations. The dispersion in the relation between 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 mu m luminosity and SFR relates to the galaxy's properties, such as 4000 break and galaxy color.