Constraints on the amplitude of primordial density fluctuations from the large-scale cosmic microwave background temperature distribution

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168623· OSTI ID:6806079

Scaramella, R; Vittorio, N ^[1]

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1. Roma Osservatorio Astronomico, Rome (Italy) Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste (Italy) L'Aquila Universita (Italy)

A general method for evaluating the maximum amplitude eta(H) of density fluctuations at their horizon crossing is presented that is consistent with all the available observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) large-scale temperature distribution. Flat universes with Gaussian, adiabatic, scale-invariant primordial density fluctuations are considered. The theoretical predictions are compared with the upper bounds on the CMB quadrupole anisotropy, the CMB anisotropy on intermediate angular scales, and the CMB autocorrelation function. It is found that the Fixen et al. (1983) upper limit on 10 degrees implies, at the 95 percent confidence level, eta(H) less than 0.00003. 25 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6806079
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 353; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
RELICT RADIATION
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
UNIVERSE
DENSITY
AMPLITUDES
ANISOTROPY
ASTROPHYSICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COSMOLOGY
FLUCTUATIONS
LIMITING VALUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
VARIATIONS
640106* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmology