Spatially-Resolved Spectra of Diffuse Galactic Light using 10.8 M DESI Sky Fibers

Abstract

Using 10.8 million ``blank'' sky spectra from the DESI Year 3 dataset, we measure the diffuse galactic light (DGL) spectrum in the optical at spectral resolution $R\sim 4000$ by correlating with far-infrared emission from IRAS. Subdividing the sky into 54 deg${}^2$ pixels (HEALPix, NSIDE = 8), we map the variation of the DGL correlation spectrum and nebular emission lines across the DESI footprint in the high-Galactic-latitude sky. The increased data volume over previous SDSS-based analyses enables several new detections in the DGL, including scattering both onto and out of the line of sight from neutral interstellar sodium and potassium. We further detect direct emission from ro-vibrational transitions of molecular hydrogen in the near-infrared with an absolute radiance of $0.65\begin{array}{c}+0.13\\ -0.12\end{array}\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{erg}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{-2}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}\mathrm{s}{\mathrm{r}}^{-1}$, roughly consistent with theoretical expectations, but with an apparent ortho-to-para line ratio that is lower by a factor of $0.60\begin{array}{c}+0.28\\ -0.27\end{array}$. We confirm previous detections of extended red emission (ERE) in the DGL and map its spatial variation. Our spatially resolved DGL maps provide important observational constraints for the radiative transfer efforts that are now possible with recent 3D models of the Milky Way.

34 pages, 18 figures, submitted to AAS journals