Radio-to-FIR Spectral Energy Distribution and Photometric Redshifts for Dusty Starburst Galaxies

As a logical next step in improving the radio-to-submm spectral index as a redshift indicator (Carilli & Yun), we have investigated a technique of using the entire radio-to-FIR spectral energy distribution (SED) for deriving photometric redshifts for dusty starburst galaxies at high redshift. A dusty starburst SED template is developed from theoretical understanding on various emission mechanisms related to massive star formation process, and the template parameters are selected by examining the observed properties of 23 IR selected starburst galaxies: Td = 58 K, β = 1.35, and fnth = 1. The major improvement in using this template SED for deriving photometric redshifts is the significant reduction in redshift uncertainty over the spectral index technique, particularly at higher redshifts. Intrinsic dispersion in the radio and FIR SEDs as well as absolute calibration and measurement errors contribute to the overall uncertainty of the technique. The derived photometric redshifts for five submm galaxies with known redshifts agree well with their spectroscopic redshifts within the estimated uncertainty. Photometric redshifts for seven submm galaxies without known spectroscopic redshifts (HDF850.1, CUDSS14.1, Lockman850.1, SMM J00266+1708, SMM J09429+4658, SMM J14009+0252, FIRBACK J1608+5418) are derived. Subject headings: galaxies: high-redshift – galaxies: starburst – infrared: galaxies – submillimeter – radio continuum: galaxies – techniques: photometric