SHARDS: A global view of the star formation activity at z~0.84 and
  z~1.23
  In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of star-forming galaxies
(SFGs) at intermediate redshifts (z~1). We combine the ultra-deep optical
spectro-photometric data from the Survey for High-z Absorption Red and Dead
Sources (SHARDS) with deep UV-to-FIR observations in the GOODS-N field.
Exploiting two of the 25 SHARDS medium-band filters, F687W17 and F823W17, we
select [OII] emission line galaxies at z~0.84 and z~1.23 and characterize their
physical properties. Their rest-frame equivalent widths
(EW$_{\mathrm{rf}}$([OII])), line fluxes, luminosities, star formation rates
(SFRs) and dust attenuation properties are investigated. The evolution of the
EW$_{\mathrm{rf}}$([OII]) closely follows the SFR density evolution of the
universe, with a trend of EW$_{\mathrm{rf}}$([OII])$\propto$(1+z)$^3$ up to
redshift z~1, followed by a possible flattening. The SF properties of the
galaxies selected on the basis of their [OII] emission are compared with
complementary samples of SFGs selected by their MIR and FIR emission, and also
with a general mass-selected sample of galaxies at the same redshifts. We
demonstrate observationally that the UVJ diagram (or, similarly, a cut in the
specific SFR) is only partially able to distinguish the quiescent galaxies from
the SFGs. The SFR-M$_*$ relation is investigated for the different samples,
yelding a logarithmic slope ~1, in good agreement with previous results. The
dust attenuations derived from different SFR indicators (UV(1600), UV(2800),
[OII], IR) are compared and show clear trends with respect to both the stellar
mass and total SFR, with more massive and highly star-forming galaxies being
affected by stronger dust attenuation.
