Prospects for future far-infrared/submillimetre studies of the high-redshift Universe
Abstract
Based on observations made using COBE, SCUBA and ISO we know have a reasonable working knowledge of the submm-wave and far-infrared background radiation intensity and of the source counts of luminous high-redshift dusty galaxies. However, because of uncertainties in the background intensity determinations, and the small samples of detected galaxies, with incomplete redshift information for even these samples, important details remain unclear. The impact expected in the field from the forthcoming launch of SIRTF and the commissioning of SOFIA, the construction of ALMA, the arrival of FIRST, and the prospects for space-borne far-infrared interferometers such as SPECS will be discussed. The prospects for the new, much more capable ground-based submillimetre-wave cameras, such as BOLOCAM, SHARC-II and SCUBA-II, and wide-band spectrographs will be discussed. When the first of these new facilities are in service, the number of high-redshift dusty galaxies known will increase dramatically. Using spectroscopy, the astrophysical processes within will be probed in detail, including the open question of what fraction of the measured background radiation intensity is generated by the formation of high-mass stars and by active galactic nuclei. Ultimately, the spatial and spectral structure of distant dusty galaxies will be resolved using ALMA and SPECS.
- Publication:
-
IAU Joint Discussion
- Pub Date:
- 2000
- Bibcode:
- 2000IAUJD...9E..10B