The Cobe Dirbe Search for the Cosmic Infrared Background

Abstract

The Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite is designed to conduct a sensitive search for isotropic cosmic infrared background radiation over the spectral range from 1.25 to 240 µm. The cumulative emissions of pregalactic, protogalactic, and evolving galactic systems are expected to be recorded in this background. The DIRBE instrument has mapped the full sky with high redundancy at solar elongation angles ranging from 64°to 124°to facilitate separation of interplanetary, Galactic, and extragalactic sources of emission. Conservative limits on the isotropic infrared background are given by the minimum observed sky brightnesses in each DIRBE spectral band during the 10 months of cryogenic operation. Extensive modeling of the foregrounds is under way to isolate or strongly limit the extragalactic infrared component. The current approach to these modeling efforts is described and representative present residuals are reported.