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The cosmic microwave background radiationBecause angular anisotropies and spectral distortions of the cosmic microwave background radiation are judged to be inevitable at some level, in a realistic cosmological model, the evidence for spectral distortions and its theoretical implications are described. The evidence for anisotropy is then discussed, and theoretical predictions of radiation anisotropy are summarized and compared with the data available. It is found that spectral distortions at the 3-sigma level near the peak of the blackbody spectrum, although inconsistent with the predicted distortions due to Compton scattering in the early universe, are elegantly interpreted in terms of radiation from an early, pregalactic generation of massive stars which had been thermalized by a modest amount of dust at high redshift. The quadrupole anisotropy at the 4-sigma level is most simply interpreted in terms of the large-scale structure of the universe.
Document ID
19820055102
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Silk, J.
(California, University Berkeley, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
December 29, 1981
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
82A38637
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-003-578
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-79-15244
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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