Cosmic Microwave Background primer

In summary: The angular correlations signatures in opposite Galactic hemispheres are anomalous at the 98%-99% confidence level.
  • #1
Chronos
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As a fan of easy reading material on thorny topics, I thought some might find this interesting:

http://www.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601307
Cosmic Microwave Background Mini-Review
 
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  • #2
Thank you Chronos - nice paper, though I thought it could have been a little more critical and included caveats where appropiate: no discussion of the low-l mode deficiency instead it says:"
We have suppressed some of the low-ℓ and high-ℓ band-powers which have large error bars.
...
The multipole axis here is linear, so the Sachs-Wolfe plateau is hard to see.
and does not mention the fact that the S-W plateau is actually missing. No discussion about the 'axis of evil', the effect of which may completely change the interpretation put upon the data.

And when is the WMAP year 2 release date?

Garth
 
  • #3
Agreed. But, you must admit you are a bit more advanced [and demanding] than most audiences, Garth. You like the tough stuff. Personally, I think the SW plateau is missing because instrument sensitivity is just not as good as hoped. WMAP year 2 results should be released a week from friday . . .
 
  • #4
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  • #5
Chronos said:
WMAP year 2 results should be released a week from friday . . .
I've heard that one before...:wink:

Garth
 
  • #6
Chronos said:
WMAP year 2 results should be released a week from friday . . .
Wow! Is this official?
 
  • #7
They have not yet announced which friday . . .
 
  • #8
A paper today on the large scale, low l-mode CMB anisotropies, accepted for publication in A&A:
On the CMB large-scales angular correlations
We found that the, already known, anomalous lack of large-scale power in full-sky CMB maps are mainly due to missing angular correlations of quadrupole-like signature. This result is robust with respect to frequency CMB maps and cut-sky masks. Moreover, we also confirm previous results regarding the unevenly distribution in the sky of the large-scale power of WMAP data. In a bin-to-bin correlations analyses, measured by the full covariance matrix chi^2 statistic, we found that the angular correlations signatures in opposite Galactic hemispheres are anomalous at the 98%-99% confidence level.

Garth
 

What is the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) primer?

The Cosmic Microwave Background primer is a summary or overview of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation, which is the leftover thermal radiation from the Big Bang. It is a key piece of evidence in support of the Big Bang theory and provides important insights into the early universe.

How was the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation discovered?

The Cosmic Microwave Background radiation was first predicted by George Gamow in the 1940s and was later discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson in 1964 using a radio telescope. They were initially puzzled by the constant background noise they were detecting, but it was later identified as the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation.

What is the significance of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation?

The Cosmic Microwave Background radiation is significant in several ways. It provides evidence for the Big Bang theory and helps us understand the early universe. It also helps us determine the age and composition of the universe and supports the theory of cosmic inflation. Additionally, it allows us to study the distribution of matter in the universe and supports the concept of dark matter and dark energy.

What is the temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation?

The Cosmic Microwave Background radiation has a temperature of approximately 2.7 Kelvin (-270.45 degrees Celsius or -454.81 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature is incredibly uniform throughout the entire observable universe, with only tiny variations, which is a key piece of evidence for the Big Bang theory.

How is the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation measured and studied?

The Cosmic Microwave Background radiation is measured using specialized instruments such as radio telescopes and satellites. Scientists study the CMB by analyzing its temperature and polarization patterns, which provide insights into the age and composition of the universe. They also use this radiation to study the large-scale structure of the universe and gain a better understanding of its evolution.

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