The far infrared emission of galaxies with active supermassive black holes

More than 30 years ago the Infrared Astronomy Satellite discovered that the universe contained many almost invisible yet enormously luminous galaxies--some of them more than 1,000 times brighter than our own Milky Way. These galaxies shine primarily in the infrared, powered by dramatic bursts of star formation that are buried deep within clouds of dust and molecular gas. The dust absorbs the ultraviolet light emitted by the hot young stars, obscures the optical light, and re-radiates the energy ...