A MODEL OF THE 8-25 MICRON POINT-SOURCE INFRARED SKY

We present a detailed model for the infrared point source sky that comprises geometrically and physically realistic representations of the Galactic disk, bulge, stellar halo, spiral arms (including the "local arm"), molecular ring, and the extragalactic sky. We represent each of the distinct Galactic components by up to 87 types of Galactic source, each fully characterized by scale heights, space densities, and absolute magnitudes at BVJHK, 12, and 25 mum. Our model has been guided by a parallel Monte Carlo simulation of the Galaxy at 12 mum. The content of our Galactic source table constitutes an excellent match to the 12 mum luminosity function in the simulation, as well as to the luminosity functions at V and K. We are able to produce differential and cumulative infrared source counts for any bandpass lying fully within the IRAS Low-Resolution Spectrometer's range (7.7-22.7 mum) as well as for the IRAS 12 and 25 mum bands. These source counts match the IRAS observations extremely well. The model can be used to predict the character of the point source sky expected for observations from future infrared space experiments (e.g., ISO, SIRTF, LDR, 2MASS).