SUMMARY
If intelligent life had evolved on a planet 6.8 billion years ago, they would have observed cosmic background radiation (CMB) at a peak frequency of approximately 290 GHz, which falls within the millimeter wave range. The scale factor at that time was roughly a=0.55, resulting in a CMB temperature of 4.9K. This indicates that the CMB has remained in the microwave/millimeter wave range since the formation of the first stars, which occurred when the scale factor was about 1/20th of its current value, leading to a peak frequency around 90 microns.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of cosmic background radiation (CMB)
- Familiarity with scale factors in cosmology
- Knowledge of electromagnetic spectrum, particularly microwave and millimeter wave ranges
- Basic principles of temperature scaling in cosmology
NEXT STEPS
- Research the properties of cosmic background radiation (CMB) and its significance in cosmology
- Study the implications of scale factors on the evolution of the universe
- Explore the electromagnetic spectrum, focusing on microwave and millimeter wave characteristics
- Investigate the formation of the first stars and their impact on cosmic radiation
USEFUL FOR
Astronomers, cosmologists, and astrophysicists interested in the early universe and the characteristics of cosmic background radiation.