We matched the 1.4 GHz local luminosity functions of star-forming galaxies (SFGs) and active galactic nuclei to the 1.4 GHz differential source counts from $0.25 \ \mu\mathrm{ Jy}$ to 25 Jy using combinations of luminosity and density evolution. We present the most robust and complete local far-infrared (FIR)/radio luminosity correlation to date in a volume-limited sample of $\approx 4.3 \times 10^3$ nearby SFGs, finding that it is very tight but distinctly sub-linear: $L_\mathrm{ FIR} \propto L_\mathrm{ 1.4\,GHz}^{ 0.85}$. If the local FIR/radio correlation does not evolve, the evolving 1.4 GHz luminosity function of SFGs yields the evolving star-formation rate density (SFRD) $\psi (M_\odot \ \mathrm{ year}^{ -1} \ \mathrm{ Mpc}^{ -3}$) as a function of time since the big bang. The SFRD measured at 1.4 GHz grows rapidly at early times, peaks at "cosmic noon" when $t \approx 3 \ \mathrm{ Gyr}$ and $z \approx 2$, and subsequently decays with an $e$-folding time scale $\tau = 3.2 \ \mathrm{ Gyr}$. This evolution is similar to, but somewhat stronger than, SFRD evolution estimated from UV and FIR data.
Categories: astro-ph.GA astro-ph.CO