Cosmological Surveys in the FIR/Sub-mm

Dipartimento di Astronomia, Universita' di Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy

Abstract

The science case for FIR/Submm surveys of the extragalactic sky that might be carried out with a large sub-millimetric telescope on a very dry site is briefly reviewed. Some of the main questions concerning the formation and evolution of galaxies, making up the Cosmological IR Background, and the formation of Active Galactic Nuclei and quasars are outlined and opportunities to exploit such a unique facility are discussed. The synergy of simultaneous sub- millimetric and far-IR surveys will be discussed.