The Spectral Energy Distributions of Galaxies

Abstract

The spectral energy distribution (SED) of a galaxy represents the distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted across all wavelengths, from radio waves to gamma rays. The galaxy SED is akin to its fingerprint, and serves as a fundamental tool in modern astrophysics. It enables researchers to determine crucial properties of galaxies, including their star-formation rates, stellar populations, dust content, and evolutionary state. By analyzing galactic SEDs, astronomers can reconstruct the physical processes occurring within galaxies and trace their evolutionary histories. This article explores our current understanding of the components that contribute to galactic SEDs, the observational techniques used to measure them, and their applications in understanding galaxy formation and evolution.

45 pages, 7 figures. This is a pre-print of a chapter for the Encyclopedia of Astrophysics (edited by Ilya Mandel, section editor Sean McGee) to be published by Elsevier as a Reference Module

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