Improving models of the cosmic infrared background using CMB lensing mass maps

Understand

The cosmic infrared background (CIB) sourced by infrared emission from dusty star-forming galaxies is a valuable source of information on the star formation history of the Universe.

• In measurements of the millimeter sky at frequencies higher than $\sim 300$ GHz, the CIB and thermal emission from Galactic dust dominate.
• A limited understanding of the CIB contribution at lower frequencies on the other hand can hinder efforts to measure the kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich spectrum on small scales as well as new physics that affects the damping tail of the cosmic microwave background (CMB).
• The Planck satellite has measured with high fidelity the CIB at 217, 353, 545 and 857 GHz.