We use the radio-infrared (IR) flux correlation bet ween star-forming galaxies in the local universe to derive a simple analytical expression between the intensity of the IR background and the brightness t emperature of the radio background. This relation i s insensitive to the star formation history of the galaxies that produce the cosmic IR background (CIB). We use the observed CIB intensity to constrain t he cosmic star formation history, and the relation between the CIB and the cosmic radio background (CR B) to constrain the relative contribution of star-f orming galaxies to the CRB. Current limits on the C IB intensity predict a 178 MHz brightness temperature of ~18+-9 K, about half of the 37+-8 K inferred for an isotropic radio component. This suggests that s tar-forming galaxies and AGN contribute about equal ly to the CRB intensity at that frequency.
CITATION STYLE
Dwek, E., & Barker, M. K. (2002). The Cosmic Radio and Infrared Backgrounds Connection. The Astrophysical Journal, 575(1), 7–11. https://doi.org/10.1086/341143
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