Measurements of the cosmic background radiation

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.aa.18.090180.002421· OSTI ID:6705315

Weiss, R

Measurements of the attributes of the 2.7-K microwave background radiation (CBR) are reviewed, with emphasis on the analytic phase of CBR studies. Methods for the direct measurement of the CBR spectrum are discussed. Attention is given to receivers, antennas, absolute receiver calibration, atmospheric emission and absorption, the galactic background contribution, the analysis of LF measurements, and recent HF observations of the CBR spectrum. Measurements of the large-angular-scale intensity distribution of the CBR (the most convincing evidence that the radiation is of cosmological origin) are examined, along with limits on the linear polarization of the CBR. A description is given of the NASA-sponsored Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite mission. The results of the COBE mission will be a set of sky maps showing, in the wave number range from 1 to 10,000 kaysers, the galactic background radiation due to synchrotron emission from galactic cosmic rays, to diffuse thermal emission from H II regions, and to diffuse thermal emission from interstellar and interplanetary dust, as well as a residue consisting of the CBR and whatever other cosmological background might exist.

• Research Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
• OSTI ID: 6705315
• Journal Information: Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys.; (United States), Journal Name: Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys.; (United States) Vol. 18; ISSN ARAAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
ANTENNAS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
CALIBRATION
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMOLOGY
DIRAC COSMOLOGY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUX DENSITY
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING METHODS
MICROWAVE SPECTRA
RADIANT FLUX DENSITY
RADIATIONS
RADIO EQUIPMENT
RADIO TELESCOPES
SPECTRA
TELESCOPES