A calculation of confusion noise due to infrared cirrus

Abstract

General expressions are developed for the statistical errors to be expected in photometric measurements due to confusion in a background of fluctuating surface brightness. Backgrounds actually observed in the far IR by the IRAS satellite are used to calculate tables of these error expressions for two simple measurement techniques. The confusion-noise-limited sensitivities for NASA's planned Space IR Telescope Facility and the ESA's IR Space Observatory are estimated at a wavelength of 100 microns from these tables.