An independent determination of the local Hubble constant

Abstract The relationship between the integrated H β line luminosity and the velocity dispersion of the ionized gas of H ii galaxies and giant H ii regions represents an exciting standard candle that presently can be used up to redshifts z ∼ 4. Locally it is used to obtain precise measurements of th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2018-02, Vol.474 (1), p.1250-1276
Main Authors: Fernández Arenas, David, Terlevich, Elena, Terlevich, Roberto, Melnick, Jorge, Chávez, Ricardo, Bresolin, Fabio, Telles, Eduardo, Plionis, Manolis, Basilakos, Spyros
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anchors
Galaxies
H II regions
Hubble constant
Luminosity
Parameter estimation
Red shift
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract The relationship between the integrated H β line luminosity and the velocity dispersion of the ionized gas of H ii galaxies and giant H ii regions represents an exciting standard candle that presently can be used up to redshifts z ∼ 4. Locally it is used to obtain precise measurements of the Hubble constant by combining the slope of the relation obtained from nearby (z ≤ 0.2) H ii galaxies with the zero-point determined from giant H ii regions belonging to an ‘anchor sample’ of galaxies for which accurate redshift-independent distance moduli are available. We present new data for 36 giant H ii regions in 13 galaxies of the anchor sample that includes the megamaser galaxy NGC 4258. Our data are the result of the first 4 yr of observation of our primary sample of 130 giant H ii regions in 73 galaxies with Cepheid determined distances. Our best estimate of the Hubble parameter is 71.0 ± 2.8(random) ± 2.1(systematic) km s− 1Mpc− 1. This result is the product of an independent approach and, although at present less precise than the latest SNIa results, it is amenable to substantial improvement.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stx2710