Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Characterizing Distant Galaxies: Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis Of X-Ray Selected Star Forming Galaxies, Seth Pohatan Johnson

Open Access Dissertations

Comprehensive and robust analysis of galaxies found throughout cosmic time provides the means to probe the underlying characteristics of our Universe. Coupling observations and theory, spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting provides a method to derive the intrinsic properties of distant galaxies which then aid in defining galaxy populations and constraining current galaxy formation and evolution scenarios. One such population are the sub-millimeter galaxies (SMGs) whose high infrared luminosities -- typically associated with dust-obscured star formation -- and redshift distribution places them as likely key components in galaxy evolution. To fully analyze these systems, however, requires a near complete sampling of …