Quick question on CMB anisotropy in Earth frame

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of the mean occupation number and specific intensity of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) photons in the Earth frame, utilizing blackbody formulas. The participants analyze the transformation of these quantities under Lorentz transformations, specifically addressing discrepancies found in two academic papers. The key equations discussed include the mean occupation number, ##\eta = \frac{1}{e^{h\nu/k_{B}T} - 1}##, and the specific intensity, ##I_{\nu'} = \frac{2h\nu'^3}{e^{h\nu'/k_{B}T} - 1}##. The confusion arises from differing notations and interpretations of the CMB frame and Earth frame parameters.

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  • Familiarity with Lorentz transformations in the context of special relativity.
  • Knowledge of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and its significance in cosmology.
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  • Examine the implications of Doppler shifts on observed frequencies in different frames.
  • Review academic papers on CMB anisotropy for deeper insights into current research methodologies.
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WannabeNewton
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Hi guys. Consider the mean occupation number and specific intensity of the CMB photons in the CMB frame as given by the blackbody formulas: ##\eta = \frac{1}{e^{h\nu/k_{B}T_0} - 1}## and ##I_{\nu} =\frac{2h\nu^3}{e^{h\nu/k_{B}T_0} - 1}## with ##T_0## the thermal bath temperature in the CMB frame and ##c = 1##.

Now we consider the Earth as a Lorentz frame moving relative to the CMB frame with some velocity ##v## relative to the ##x##-axis of the CMB frame and a telescope in the Earth frame oriented at some angle ##\theta##. Note that the mean occupation number can be put in the frame-independent form ##\eta = \frac{1}{e^{-p_{\mu}u^{\mu}/k_{B}T_0} - 1}## where ##u^{\mu}## is the 4-velocity of the CMB frame and ##p^{\mu}## the 4-momentum of the photons.

In the Earth frame, ##u^{\mu} = \gamma(1,-v)## and ##p^{\mu} = h(\nu', -\nu' \cos\theta, -\nu' \sin\theta)## so ##\eta = \frac{1}{e^{\gamma h\nu'(1 - v\cos\theta )/k_{B}T_0} - 1} = \frac{1}{e^{h\nu'/k_{B}T} - 1} ## where ##T = T_0 \frac{\sqrt{1-v^2}}{1 - v\cos\theta}##. Then the specific intensity in this frame would be ##I_{\nu'} = \frac{2h\nu'^3}{e^{h\nu'/k_{B}T} - 1}##. Here ##\nu = \gamma \nu' (1 - v\cos\theta)## so ##\nu' = \frac{\sqrt{1 - v^2}}{1 - v\cos\theta}\nu## is the doppler shifted frequency in the Earth frame.

However, in p.16 of http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~jeremy/heap.pdf, one is given the result ##\eta = \frac{1}{e^{h\nu/k_{B}T} - 1}## instead (the paper's ##\hat{T}_{\text{CMB}}## is the ##T## above) so where did I go wrong?

On the other hand in p.20 of http://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~proko101/JildouBaarsmaCMB.pdf, one is given ##\eta = \frac{1}{e^{|p'|/k_{B}T} - 1} = \frac{1}{e^{h\nu'/k_{B}T} - 1}## (the paper's ##T'## is the ##T## above) which seems to agree with what I have so I'm confused.

Thanks in advance.
 
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WannabeNewton said:
However, in p.16 of http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~jeremy/heap.pdf, one is given the result ##\eta = \frac{1}{e^{h\nu/k_{B}T} - 1}## instead (the paper's ##\hat{T}_{\text{CMB}}## is the ##T## above)

At a quick glance, it looks the same to me. Note carefully the notation for the frames given in the paragraph immediately after 1.29.
 
you might want to also check out this handy article

"Physics of the intergalactic medium." I'm still studying it myself as its fairly intense lol. However you may find it useful for your research

http://arxiv.org/abs/0711.3358

by the way nice articles I'll be adding them to my collection to study myself
 
Last edited:
George Jones said:
At a quick glance, it looks the same to me. Note carefully the notation for the frames given in the paragraph immediately after 1.29.

Oh haha I totally missed the difference in notation for the frames. Well that's embarrassing. Thanks George!

Mordred said:
you might want to also check out this handy article

"Physics of the intergalactic medium." I'm still studying it myself as its fairly intense lol. However you may find it useful for your research

http://arxiv.org/abs/0711.3358

by the way nice articles I'll be adding them to my collection to study myself

Awesome, thanks Mordred!
 

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