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D.A. Dale (JPL/Caltech), G. Helou (Caltech), N.A. Silbermann, S.P. Kolhatkar (IPAC/Caltech), A. Contursi (JPL/Caltech)
We present a new model for the spectral energy distribution of normal star-forming galaxies between 3 and 1100 \mum. For a wide range of interstellar radiation field heating intensities U we combine emission curves for Large and Very Small grains and Aromatic Feature carriers, their shapes and amplitudes a function of U. Realistic galaxy spectra are constructed from the family of U-dependent curves assuming a power law distribution in U. The model is constrained by IRAS, ISO-CAM, and ISO-PHOT observations for our sample of 69 normal galaxies; the model reproduces well the empirical spectra and IR color trends. These model spectra allow us to translate far-IR fluxes into total-IR fluxes, and provide a basis for optimizing deep surveys and searches for high-redshift galaxies with SIRTF and other future missions.