Spectrum and anisotropy of the cosmic infrared background

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/164355· OSTI ID:6931710

Bond, J R; Carr, B J; Hogan, C J

If the luminosity per mass of the universe at redshifts z = 5-1000 were at least comparable to its present luminosity, then a conspicuous cosmological infrared radiation background would be produced. A number of situations where this could arise are surveyed, and the intensity of the background is evaluated for specific types of sources (protogalaxies, pregalactic stars, quasars, black holes, and decaying relict particles) in several candidate scenarios, which are also discussed in terms of metal enrichment, dark matter, and formation of large-scale structure. The spectrum of the background radiation is estimated, both with and without dust obscuration. General features of cosmological radiative transfer with dust are discussed. It is argued that dust is expected to degrade the background to the far-infrared, 100-1000 microns, where the wavelength of the spectral peak can be predicted from the total present-day background flux and depends only weakly on properties of the dust or the redshift of emission. The statistical properties of the anisotropy expected in the radiation and its relationship to the distribution of dust at the time the dust is formed or the radiation is produced are estimated. Intensity fluctuations at the few percent level on arc minute scales are typical in current galaxy-formation scenarios. 84 references.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA; California Univ., Santa Barbara; Queen Mary College, London, England; California Institute of Technology, Pasadena; Steward Observatory, Tucson, AZ
• OSTI ID: 6931710
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 306; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANISOTROPY
BACKGROUND RADIATION
BLACK HOLES
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMOLOGY
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
INFRARED RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
QUASARS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADIATIONS