CLEAR: Paschen-β Star Formation Rates and Dust Attenuation of Low-redshift Galaxies

Abstract We use Paschen- β (Pa ; 1282 nm) observations from the Hubble Space Telescope G141 grism to study star formation and dust-attenuation properties of a sample 29 low-redshift ( z < 0.287) galaxies in CANDELS Ly α Emission at Reionization survey. first compare nebular attenuation Pa /H with stellar inferred spectral energy distribution, finding that our are consistent an average ratio continuum gas 0.44, but large amount excess scatter beyond observational uncertainties. Much this is linked variation between dust as measured by (space-based) (ground-based) H . This implies there important differences grism-based/wide-aperture fluxes ground-based/slit-measured Balmer decrement. next rates (SFRs) those dust-corrected UV. perform survival analysis infer census emission implied both detections nondetections. find evidence lower mass have more their attenuation-corrected UV SFRs. When considering detection limits, observation supports idea lower-mass experience “burstier” histories. Together, these results show valuable tracer galaxy’s SFR, probing different timescales potentially revealing otherwise missed optical tracers.