Measuring and modelling the cosmic spectral energy distribution

Stephen Kent Andrews

doi:10.4225/23/5a02ae16692bd

Measuring and modelling the cosmic spectral energy distribution

Stephen Kent Andrews

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis

152 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We present spectral measurements of the energy output of the Universe over the last 7.5 billion years. We find that total energy output declines from (5.1 ±1.0) to (1.3±0.3)x10^35 W Mpc^3, the Universe has become more transparent, and recover (68±12)% and (61 ±13)% of the present-day cosmic optical and infrared backgrounds. We also present a model that predicts how cosmic background radiation evolves from the Big Bang, reproducing our measurements, the extragalactic background light and the densities of stars and cosmic dust. We find a state-of-the-art model of galaxy evolution is able to reproduce our measured spectra, but underestimates its normalisation.

Original language	English
Qualification	Doctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution	The University of Western Australia
Supervisors/Advisors	Davies, Luke, Supervisor Robotham, Aaron, Supervisor Driver, Simon, Supervisor
Thesis sponsors	Australian Government Research Training Program
Award date	31 Oct 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4225/23/5a02ae16692bd
Publication status	Unpublished - 2017

Access to Document

10.4225/23/5a02ae16692bd

THESIS - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - ANDREWS Stephen Kent - 2017
This work is protected by Copyright. You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own non-commercial research or study. Any other use requires permission from the copyright owner. The Copyright Act requires you to attribute any copyright works you quote or paraphrase.

Cite this

@phdthesis{7a099f7858e5431ca0014198e343a861,

title = "Measuring and modelling the cosmic spectral energy distribution",

abstract = "We present spectral measurements of the energy output of the Universe over the last 7.5 billion years. We find that total energy output declines from (5.1 ±1.0) to (1.3±0.3)x10^35 W Mpc^3, the Universe has become more transparent, and recover (68±12)% and (61 ±13)% of the present-day cosmic optical and infrared backgrounds. We also present a model that predicts how cosmic background radiation evolves from the Big Bang, reproducing our measurements, the extragalactic background light and the densities of stars and cosmic dust. We find a state-of-the-art model of galaxy evolution is able to reproduce our measured spectra, but underestimates its normalisation.",

keywords = "integrated galactic light, extragalactic background light, cosmic background radiation, cosmology, Galaxy evolution",

author = "Andrews, {Stephen Kent}",

year = "2017",

doi = "10.4225/23/5a02ae16692bd",

language = "English",

school = "The University of Western Australia",

}

TY - BOOK

T1 - Measuring and modelling the cosmic spectral energy distribution

AU - Andrews, Stephen Kent

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - We present spectral measurements of the energy output of the Universe over the last 7.5 billion years. We find that total energy output declines from (5.1 ±1.0) to (1.3±0.3)x10^35 W Mpc^3, the Universe has become more transparent, and recover (68±12)% and (61 ±13)% of the present-day cosmic optical and infrared backgrounds. We also present a model that predicts how cosmic background radiation evolves from the Big Bang, reproducing our measurements, the extragalactic background light and the densities of stars and cosmic dust. We find a state-of-the-art model of galaxy evolution is able to reproduce our measured spectra, but underestimates its normalisation.

AB - We present spectral measurements of the energy output of the Universe over the last 7.5 billion years. We find that total energy output declines from (5.1 ±1.0) to (1.3±0.3)x10^35 W Mpc^3, the Universe has become more transparent, and recover (68±12)% and (61 ±13)% of the present-day cosmic optical and infrared backgrounds. We also present a model that predicts how cosmic background radiation evolves from the Big Bang, reproducing our measurements, the extragalactic background light and the densities of stars and cosmic dust. We find a state-of-the-art model of galaxy evolution is able to reproduce our measured spectra, but underestimates its normalisation.

KW - integrated galactic light

KW - extragalactic background light

KW - cosmic background radiation

KW - cosmology

KW - Galaxy evolution

U2 - 10.4225/23/5a02ae16692bd

DO - 10.4225/23/5a02ae16692bd

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

ER -

Measuring and modelling the cosmic spectral energy distribution

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this