Spectrophotometric measurement of the Extragalacic Background Light

• DOI: 10.1017/s174392131200957x
• Publication Date: 2012-08-17T15:08:53Z
• Authors: Kalevi Mattila; Kimmo Lehtinen; Petri Väisänen; Gerhard von Appen...; Christoph Leinert
• Keywords: Zodiacal light; Extragalactic background light; Starlight; Opacity; Line-of-sight; Stray light

Abstract The Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) at UV, optical and NIR wavelengths consists of the integrated light all unresolved galaxies along line sight plus any contributions by intergalactic matter including hypothetical decaying relic particles. measurement EBL has turned out to be a tedious problem. This is because foreground components night sky brightness, much larger than itself: Zodiacal (ZL), Integrated Starlight (ISL), Diffuse Galactic (DGL) and, for ground-based observations, Airglow (AGL) tropospheric scattered light. We have been developing method which utilises screening effect dark nebula on EBL. A differential in direction high-latitude its surrounding area provides signal that due two only, i.e. diffusely ISL from cloud. present progress report this where we are now utilising intermediate resolution spectroscopy with ESO's VLT telescope. detect remove component using characteristic Fraunhofer spectral signature. In contrast ISL, spectrum lines washed out. high quality representing difference between an opaque position within our target cloud several clear OFF positions around derive preliminary value 400 nm upper limit 520 nm. These values same range as lower limits derived galaxy counts. Unit: will use paper abbreviation 1 cgs = 10 −9 erg s −1 cm −2 sr Å