CMB Cosmic Microwave Background

In summary, converting measurements in radio astronomical terms to temperature involves using Planck's law to calculate the energy density of a black body radiator at a given frequency. Penzias and Wilson's measurement of CMB at 4080 Mc/s led them to a value of about 3.5 degrees Kelvin higher than expected, which was determined by using the formula for a black body radiator to calculate the energy and then solving for the temperature. The term "Mc/s" refers to "Mega cycles/second," which is equivalent to MHz in modern units.
  • #1
Martin1957
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How does one convert measurements in radio astronomical terms to temperature (Kelvin)? Specifically: Penzias & Wilson's measurement of CMB was "excess temperature at 4080 Mc/s." HOW does this yield a "value of about 3.5 degrees Kelvin higher than expected?" Basically, how do you get from Mc/s to K?
 
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  • #2
I've never seen 'Mc/s' before but at the end of the original paper http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1965ApJ...142..419P they mention it's a measure of frequency so probably means 'Mega cycles/ second' which is MHz nowadays.

The CMB temperature characterizes the whole spectrum, it is the spectrum that would be emmited by a perfect black body radiator at that temperature. They probably measured the energy falling on unit area per unit time and in unit solid angle and then used the formula (Planck's law) for a black body radiator that predicts that energy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_body

Knowing the energy density that was measured, you can invert the formula and solve for the temperature.
 

1. What is CMB Cosmic Microwave Background?

CMB Cosmic Microwave Background is a type of radiation that is found throughout the entire universe. It is the oldest light in the universe, dating back to just 380,000 years after the Big Bang. It is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is in the microwave range, making it invisible to the human eye.

2. How was CMB Cosmic Microwave Background discovered?

CMB Cosmic Microwave Background was first discovered in 1965 by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson. They were conducting experiments with a radio antenna and found that they were picking up a faint, uniform radiation from all directions. This discovery confirmed the Big Bang theory and has since been studied extensively by scientists.

3. What is the significance of CMB Cosmic Microwave Background?

CMB Cosmic Microwave Background is significant because it provides evidence for the Big Bang theory, which is the most widely accepted explanation for the origins of the universe. It also gives us insight into the early stages of the universe and helps us understand the distribution of matter and energy throughout the universe.

4. How is CMB Cosmic Microwave Background measured?

CMB Cosmic Microwave Background is measured using specialized telescopes and detectors that can pick up the faint microwave radiation. Scientists also use data from satellites, such as the Planck satellite, to map out the temperature and polarization of the CMB across the sky.

5. What can we learn from studying CMB Cosmic Microwave Background?

Studying CMB Cosmic Microwave Background can provide us with information about the composition and evolution of the universe. It can also help us understand the distribution of dark matter and dark energy, which make up the majority of the universe's mass. Additionally, studying the CMB can help us test and refine theories about the origins and expansion of the universe.

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