Star formation rate in starburst galaxies

The statistical investigation of integrated characteristics of thr blue compact galaxies from the Second Byurakan survey has been carried out. The tight correlation between the luminosities in the far-infrared range and radio range (radio-continuum at 21 cm) has been revealed. It implies the common origin of this radiation in star forming regions. The current star formation rates have been derived both from the luminosity in the far-infrared range (SFRFIR) and from the luminosity in the radio range (SFR21 cm). The Salpeter shape of the initial mass function (IMF) and low-mass cut-off of 0.1 M-circle dot in IMF has been assumed for the SFRFIR calculation. We derive the SFR21 cm assuming that radio free-free emission at lambda = 21 cm is thermal emission of gas ionised by massive stars. The SFR21 cm is shown to be about 3.5 times as large as SFRFIR for our sample of galaxies. These star formation rates are proposed to be considered as lower and upper limits of true galaxy star formation rates. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.