Continuous Mid-Infrared Star Formation Rate Indicators: Diagnostics for
  0<z<3 Star Forming Galaxies
  We present continuous, monochromatic star formation rate (SFR) indicators
over the mid-infrared wavelength range of 6-70 micron. We use a sample of 58
star forming galaxies (SFGs) in the Spitzer-SDSS-GALEX Spectroscopic Survey
(SSGSS) at z<0.2, for which there is a rich suite of multi-wavelength
photometry and spectroscopy from the ultraviolet through to the infrared. The
data from the Spitzer infrared spectrograph (IRS) of these galaxies, which
spans 5-40 micron, is anchored to their photometric counterparts. The spectral
region between 40-70 micron is interpolated using dust model fits to the IRS
spectrum and Spitzer 70 and 160 micron photometry. Since there are no sharp
spectral features in this region, we expect these interpolations to be robust.
This spectral range is calibrated as a SFR diagnostic using several reference
SFR indicators to mitigate potential bias. Our band-specific continuous SFR
indicators are found to be consistent with monochromatic calibrations in the
local universe, as derived from Spitzer, WISE, and Herschel photometry. Our
local composite template and continuous SFR diagnostics are made available for
public use through the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) and have
typical dispersions of 30% or less. We discuss the validity and range of
applicability for our SFR indicators in the context of unveiling the formation
and evolution of galaxies. Additionally, in the era of the James Webb Space
Telescope this will become a flexible tool, applicable to any SFG up to z~3.
