Exploring Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

Owen Gourd Saiteja Chagantipati Justin Davenport

What is cosmic microwave background radiation

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is basically observable radiation that is still there from the big bang.
(cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education /IUP/GlossaryA E.htm)

Other Places we saw it

cosmic background radiation: (cosmology) the cooled remnant of the hot big bang that fills the entire universe and can be observed today with an average temperature of about 2.725 kelvin wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn In cosmology, cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation (also CMBR, CBR, MBR, and relic radiation) is a form of electromagnetic radiation filling the universe. With a traditional optical telescope, the space between stars and galaxies (the background) is pitch black. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_Microwave_Background Observable radiation (in the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum) left over from the big bang, the cosmic microwave background is considered proof of the big bang. cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/IUP/GlossaryA_E.htm (CMB for short): The afterglow of the Big Bang, showing the Universe as it was around 400,000 years after the Big Bang. The CMB appears as an almost constant black body with a temperature of 3 K. ... planck.cf.ac.uk/glossary This is the electromagnetic radiation "leftover" after the decoupling of photons from matter about 300,000 years after the Big Bang. We study the perturbations or disturbances in the radiation in hopes of one day discovering the ultimate fate of our Universe. www.wwu.edu/depts/skywise/a101_cosmologyglossary.html "One of the serendipitous but extremely significant discoveries of the Plasma Universe simulation model was a background of microwaves with an energy density very nearly equal to that observed from the cosmic microwave background." www.plasma-universe.com/Plasma_Universe_predictions

How Do they See it ?

Obviously this radiation that was given of at the big bang cannot be seen with the naked eye. So scientists started using horn antennas in around 1965 (invented by Penzias and Wilson) to observe and record the cosmic microwave background.
(http://www.encyclopedia.com/topi c/Cosmic_background_radiatio n.aspx)

What is a Horn Antenna ?

A horn antenna is just like any radio transmiter that radio stations use to broadcast their shows. The waves are sent through a transmitter and then travels into space at maximum speed and comes back as well. It took scientists a long time to figure out there was radiation because the technology wasn't as advanced.But soon they found out that based on the way it was coming they could find out some vital information.
http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/ how-does-a-radio-work

So in basic terms it is a common microwave antenna having the shape of a rectangular or circular horn. It has the ability to effectively concentrate the radiated power in a given direction.

Important Discoveries
The CMB and its temperature are important because of what it can tell us about the early history of the universe. The cooling period that the universe went through is believed to be the origin of the important particles that would later become matter and energy. It is also believed that this was the same period that the physical laws of the universe became fixed. This is why learning more about CMB and taking more precise measurements was such an important part. Hopefully this and other research aids such as the radio telescope will help us to unlock more secrets about the origins of the universe by the use of Cosmic Microwave Radiation.
http://www.optcorp.com/edu/articleDetailEDU.aspx?aid=1796 http://www.universetoday.com/82563/cmb/

What can it tell us ?

Cosmic Microwave Background can tell us a lot of important facts. It can tell us how old the universe is. Tiny changes in the temperature of the cmb reflect the variations in the density of the early universe and it can even tell us the Hubble constant.
http://astro.berkeley.edu/~mgeorge/astroc10/handouts/astroc10_f08_handout1 _1203.pdf (http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Cosmic-Microwave-BackgroundRadiation-267543.html)

Resource Page
Harewell, James S. "Glossary." Berkeley Cosmology Group. Web. 22 Feb2011.<http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/IUP/GlossaryA_ E.htm>. "Radio Astronomy." UXL Encyclopedia ofScience,2002. Encyclopedia.com. 22Feb.2011<http://www.encycl opedia.com>.) Jackell, Jamie K. "How Do Radios Work ?" Http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com. 3 Aug. 2006. Web. <http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-does-a-radio-work>. Optocorporation. "Discovery of Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation - OPT Telescopes."Meade Telescopes, Celestron Telescopes and Telescope Accessories - OPT Telescopes. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.optcorp.com/edu/articleDetailEDU.aspx?aid=1796>.

Resource Page
Marley, George. Astro.berkley.edu. Web. <http://astro.berkeley.edu/~mgeorge/astroc10/handouts/astroc10_f0 8_handout1_1203.pdf>. Jeninghs, Simone. "CMB." Universe Today. 22 Feb. 2011 <http://www.universetoday.com/82563/cmb/>. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:hubble+const ant&sa=X&ei=MaJhTYLkDYH6lwf-t421DA&ved=0CBkQkAE "Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation - Fun Facts, Questions, Answers, Information." Fun Trivia Quizzes - World's Largest Trivia and Quiz Site! 22 Feb. 2011

<http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/CosmicMicrowave-Background-Radiation-267543.html>.