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We conduct for the first time a theoretical investigation of the mid-infraredspectral energy distribution (SED) produced by dust heated by an activegalactic nucleus (AGN) and an extreme starburst. These models employ anintegrated modeling approach using photoionization and stellar populationsynthesis models in which both the line and emergent continuum is predictedfrom gas exposed to the ionizing radiation from a young starburst and an AGN.In this work, we focus on the infrared colors from the {\it Wide-field InfraredSurvey Explorer}, predicting the dependence of the colors on the inputradiation field, the ISM conditions, the obscuring column, and the metallicity.We find that an extreme starburst can mimic an AGN in two band mid-infraredcolor cuts employed in the literature. However, the three band color cutsemployed in the literature require starbursts with extremely high ionizationparameters or gas densities . We show that the extreme mid-IR colors seen insome blue compact dwarf galaxies are not due to metallicity but rather acombination of high ionization parameters and high column densities. Based onour theoretical calculations, we present a theoretical mid-infrared color cutthat will exclude even the most extreme starburst that we have modeled in thiswork. The theoretical AGN demarcation region presented here can be used toidentify elusive AGN candidates for future follow-up studies with the {\itJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST)}. The full suite of simulated SEDs areavailable online.

Star Forming Galaxies as AGN Imposters? A Theoretical Investigation of the Mid-infrared Colors of AGNs and Extreme Starbursts