Libraries for High Redshift Dusty Galaxies and AGN


We present three libraries of empirical spectral energy distributions (SEDs) created from dusty, infrared luminous galaxies at z=0.5-3. These template SEDs are designed for use with high redshift observations, in order to calculate LIR, LAGN, and other desired properties. Our libraries are unique for high redshift galaxies because they quantify the amount of infrared luminosity due to an AGN.


The creation of our infrared empirical templates is described in detail Kirkpatrick et al. (2015). The paper also discuss selection techniques and possible biases and should be read before using the templates. We have a sample of 343 high redshift galaxies that were selected at 24 μm from the GOODS-N, ECDFS, and xFLS fields for which we have Spitzer IRS spectra. We performed spectral decomposition on the IRS spectra and quantified the amount of AGN emission (f (AGN)MIR) to the infrared spectrum based on how much mid-IR luminosity is due to a power-law continuum, presumably arising from a hot dusty torus. We combine this spectroscopy with photometry from Spitzer IRAC and MIPS, Herschel PACS and SPIRE, and ground-based J and K.


We use these 343 sources to create three libraries of empirical templates. These libraries are not independent. Within each library, we first normalize sources by the mid-IR luminosity. We then determine the median Lν of the photometry and spectroscopy in differential wavelength bins. In the far-IR, we fit a two temperature modified blackbody to the averaged data. Intrinsic properties of each template are listed in Tables 2 and 3 of Kirkpatrick et al. (2015).


Please cite Kirkpatrick et al. (2015) when using these templates.
NOTE: Appendix 2, showing all subsamples and templates, is missing from the arXiv pre-print due to size constraints. The full pdf of the paper is here.

GOODS-S. Image credit: NASA/ESA