G5 - star formation rate indicators
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dust plays a pivotal role in star formation
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stars form from the collapse of H
clouds -
H
is catalysed by the presence of dust via surface chemistry reactions -
it is also important for the formation of molecules like H
O and CO -
dust also acts as a coolant for collapsing gas clouds
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it reprocesses UV into IR, thus lowering the temperature of the gas and allowing the collapse to continue
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dust is produced in supernovae and winds, both indicative of recent star formations
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therefore, dust is a good Star Formation Rate Indicator (SFRI)