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Surveying Galaxy Evolution in the Far-Infrared: A Far-Infrared All-Sky Survey ConceptHalf of the total luminosity in the Universe is emitted at rest wavelengths approximately 80-100 microns. At the highest known galaxy redshifts (z greater than or equal to 6) this energy is redshifted to approximately 600 microns. Quantifying the evolution of galaxies at these wavelengths is crucial to our understanding of the formation of structure in the Universe following the big bang. Surveying the whole sky will find the rare and unique objects, enabling follow-up observations. SIRCE, the Survey of Infrared Cosmic Evolution, is such a mission concept under study at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. A helium-cooled telescope with ultrasensitive detectors can image the whole sky to the confusion limit in 6 months. Multiple wavelength bands permit the extraction of photometric redshifts, while a large telescope yields a low confusion limit. We discuss the implications of such a survey for galaxy formation and evolution, large-scale structure, star formation, and the structure of interstellar dust.
Document ID
20040074268
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Benford, D. J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Amato, M. J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Dwek, E. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Freund, M. M. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Gardner, J. P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kashlinsky, A. (Science Systems and Applications, Inc. United States)
Leisawitz, D. T. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mather, J. C. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Moseley, S. H. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Shafer, R. A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: New Concepts for Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Space Astronomy
Subject Category
Astronomy
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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