Cosmic Histories of Stars, Gas, Heavy Elements, and Dust in Galaxies

摘要: We investigate a set of coupled equations that relates the stellar, gaseous, chemical, and radiation contents universe averaged over whole population galaxies. Using as input available data from quasar absorption-line surveys, optical imaging redshift COBE DIRBE FIRAS extragalactic infrared background measurements, we obtain solutions for cosmic histories stars, interstellar gas, heavy elements, dust, stars dust in Our reproduce remarkably well wide variety observations were not used input. These include integrated light galaxy counts near-ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths, rest-frame emissivities at various redshifts surveys galaxies, mid-infrared far-infrared local IRAS survey, mean abundance elements epochs damped Ly? systems, global star formation rates several H?, mid-infrared, submillimeter observations. The chemical enrichment history intergalactic medium implied by our models is also consistent with observed metal content forest high redshifts. infer associated star-forming regions highly inhomogeneous absorbs significant fraction starlight, only 41%-46% total remaining 59%-54% reprocessed into background. presented here provide an intriguing picture galaxies much Hubble time. In particular, process appears have undergone early period substantial inflow assemble gas z 3, subsequent intense 1 recent decline content, rate, stellar emissivity, emissivity 1.