The cosmic microwave background radiation
Abstract
We summarize the theoretical and observational status of the study of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. Its thermodynamic spectrum is a robust prediction of the Hot Big Bang cosmology and has been confirmed observationally. There are now 75 observations of Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy, which we present in a table with references. We discuss the theoretical origins of these anisotropies and explain the standard jargon associated with their observation.
- Publication:
-
Physics Reports
- Pub Date:
- August 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0370-1573(00)00025-9
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0002044
- Bibcode:
- 2000PhR...333..245G
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Review article to appear in David Schramm Memorial Volume of Physics Reports, 29 pages, color figures and complete table of CMB anisotropy observations also available at http://mamacass.ucsd.edu/people/gawiser/cmb.html