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arXiv · astro-ph/9706095

The optically-dark side of galaxy formation

B. Guiderdoni·F. R. Bouchet·J. L. Puget·G. Lagache·E. Hivon
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Abstract

In this letter, we estimate how much starlight was absorbed by dust and released in the infrared during the formation of galaxies. New constraints are set on this so-far hidden history by the recent detection of the Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) built up from the accumulated light of faint sources (and revisited here). By means of a semi-analytical model of hierarchical galaxy formation, we estimate the population of dust-enshrouded starburst galaxies fitting the CIB. It is argued that a deep ISO survey at 175 micron could already detect these sources and help close the gap in our understanding of the history of light in the Universe.

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B. Guiderdoni, F. R. Bouchet, J. L. Puget, G. Lagache, E. Hivon. 1997-10-30. The optically-dark side of galaxy formation. https://doi.org/10.1038/36792

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