Program: GN-2015B-Q-34
| Title: | Measuring star formation in red spirals with Paschen-Alpha |
| PI: | Christian Wolf |
| Co-I(s): | Alfonso Aragon-Salamanca, Klaus Meisenheimer, Asmus Boehm, Sarah Sweet, David Block |
Abstract
Star formation rates in cluster spirals are debated, as H-alpha and FIR provide very different estimates. Two ways to reconcile them are: H-alpha underestimates SFR due to dust extinction, or FIR overestimates SFR as dust is heated by older stars. We propose a new diagnostic to resolve the debate, the Pa-alpha line. We will thus clarify whether the SF decline in cluster spirals occurs quickly or slowly and test scenarios for transforming spirals into S0s.