Far-Infrared Spectral Observations of the Galaxy by COBE

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (254) References (57) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Far-Infrared Spectral Observations of the Galaxy by COBE Reach, W. T. ; Dwek, E. ; Fixsen, D. J. ; Hewagama, T. ; Mather, J. C. ; Shafer, R. A. ; Banday, A. J. ; Bennett, C. L. ; Cheng, E. S. ; Eplee, R. E., Jr. ; Leisawitz, D. ; Lubin, P. M. ; Read, S. M. ; Rosen, L. P. ; Shuman, F. G. D. ; Smoot, G. F. ; Sodroski, T. J. ; Wright, E. L. Abstract We derive Galactic continuum spectra from 5-96 cm-1 from COBE/FIRAS observations. The spectra are dominated by warm dust emission, which may be fitted with a single temperature in the range 16-21 K (for v2 emissivity) along each line of sight. Dust heated by the attenuated radiation field in molecular clouds gives rise to intermediate-temperature (10-14 K) emission in the inner Galaxy only. A widespread, very cold component (4-7 K) with optical depth that is spatially correlated with the warm component is also detected. The cold component is unlikely to be due to very cold dust shielded from starlight because it is present at high latitude. We consider hypotheses that the cold component is due to enhanced submillimeter emissivity of the dust that gives rise to the warm component, or that it may be due to very small, large, or fractal particles. Lack of substantial power above the emission from warm dust places strong constraints on the amount of cold gas in the Galaxy. The microwave sky brightness due to interstellar dust is dominated by the cold component, and its angular variation could limit our ability to discern primordial fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1995 DOI: 10.1086/176210 arXiv: arXiv:astro-ph/9504056 Bibcode: 1995ApJ...451..188R Keywords: COSMOLOGY: DIFFUSE RADIATION; INFRARED: ISM: CONTINUUM; ISM: DUST; EXTINCTION; RADIO CONTINUUM: ISM; Astrophysics E-Print: UUencoded tar file, including LaTeX manuscript file and 11 postscript figure files full text sources arXiv | ADS | data products SIMBAD (1)