Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2004-12-09
Phys.Rept. 409 (2005) 361-438
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Invited review, Physics Reports, in press. 97 pages, 24 figures
Scientific paper
10.1016/j.physrep.2004.12.005
The Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) reflects the sum total of galactic luminosities integrated over the entire age of the universe. From its measurements one can deduce information about objects at epochs currently inaccessible to telescopic studies. This review discusses the state of the current CIB measurements and the (mostly space-based) instruments with which these measurements have been made, the obstacles (the various foreground emissions)and the physics behind the CIB and its structure. Theoretical discussion of the CIB levels can now be normalized to the standard cosmological model narrowing down theoretical uncertainties. We review the information behind and theoretical modeling of both the mean (isotropic) levels of the CIB and their fluctuations. The CIB is divided into three broad bands: near-IR, mid-IR and far-IR. For each of the bands we review the main contributors to the CIB flux and the epochs at which the bulk of the flux originates. We also discuss the data on the various quantities relevant for correct interpretation of the CIB levels: the star-formation history, the present-day luminosity function measurements, resolving the various galaxy contributors to the CIB, etc. The integrated light of all galaxies in the deepest near-IR galaxy counts to date fails to match the observed mean level of the CIB, probably indicating a significant high-redshift contribution to the CIB. Additionally, Population III stars should have left a strong and measurable signature via their contribution to the cosmic infrared background (CIB) anisotropies for a wide range of their formation scenarios, and measuring the excess CIB anisotropies coming from high z would provide direct information on that epoch.
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