The source of cosmic background radiation

In summary, all stars and galaxies emit a wide range of electromagnetic radiation. The distribution of background radiation and visible matter in the universe both appear to have a filimetary structure when viewed in detail. This leads us to believe that the background radiation is a remnant from the Big Bang and not just the radiation from visible matter in the universe. Additionally, the number of photons generated by light matter is significantly lower than the number of CMB photons, making it impossible for them to account for the observed number of CMB photons. Furthermore, the CMB is extremely uniform and not filimentary, with an average temperature of 2.7K. Finally, the energy per photon from light matter is much higher than that of the CMB,
  • #1
Lesnick
8
0
All stars and Galaxies appear to give off the whole spectrum of electromagnetic radiation.
If one views images of the distribution of background radiation in detail it appears to be filimetary in nature. Also if one views the distribution of visible matter in the universe it also appears filimetary in nature, it looks as though one could super impose one on top of the other.
Why do we think that background radiation is radiation left over from the big bang and not just the radiation from all of the visible matter in the universe.
 
Space news on Phys.org
  • #2
The number of photons created by light matter (which by the way were generated after the CMB was aleady in existence) is several orders of magnitude less than the number of CMB photons. Thus, these light matter photons cannot account for the observed number of CMB photons.
 
  • #4
Lesnick said:
If one views images of the distribution of background radiation in detail it appears to be filimetary in nature.
No, it's not filimentary at all. And it's even worse for this view than a naive glance at the picture Nabeshin posted would imply: that image is not the temperature, but the difference in temperature from the average. The average temperature is 2.7K. Those little differences are 100,000 times smaller than the average. The CMB isn't filimentary: it's extremely uniform.
 
  • #5
It would not be a perfect black body spectrum.
 
  • #6
That's another point: the average energy per photon from light matter (locally) is several tens of eV (about 1000x that of the CMB, and CMB photons are in fact local), yet the number density of light photons is lower than the CMB number density.
 

1. What is cosmic background radiation?

Cosmic background radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is present throughout the entire universe. It is the residual radiation left over from the Big Bang, which is believed to be the origin of the universe. It is also known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation.

2. How was cosmic background radiation discovered?

Cosmic background radiation was first discovered in 1964 by two scientists, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, through their observations using a radio telescope. They found a low level of radiation that was coming from all directions in the sky, which could not be explained by any known celestial object. This discovery led to the confirmation of the Big Bang theory.

3. What is the source of cosmic background radiation?

The source of cosmic background radiation is the leftover thermal energy from the Big Bang. As the universe expanded and cooled down, this energy became stretched out and now appears as microwaves, with a temperature of about 2.7 Kelvin (-270.45 degrees Celsius). This energy is evenly spread throughout the universe, making it detectable from anywhere in the sky.

4. How does cosmic background radiation support the Big Bang theory?

The presence of cosmic background radiation is one of the main pieces of evidence that supports the Big Bang theory. The theory predicts that there should be a residual radiation leftover from the explosion of the universe, and the discovery of cosmic background radiation confirms this prediction. Additionally, the characteristics of the radiation, such as its temperature and distribution, match the predictions of the Big Bang theory.

5. What impact does cosmic background radiation have on our understanding of the universe?

Cosmic background radiation has had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe. It has confirmed the Big Bang theory as the most widely accepted explanation for the origin of the universe. It also provides valuable information about the age and composition of the universe, as well as the processes that have shaped it. The study of cosmic background radiation continues to contribute to our understanding of the cosmos and the laws of physics.

Similar threads

Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
920
  • Cosmology
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
37
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
710
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
19
Views
1K
  • Cosmology
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Cosmology
Replies
1
Views
1K
Back
Top