19/26
December 2002
Pattern in the cosmos: Polarization of the cosmic microwave background
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On the cover, the DASI instrument, with the NSF station in the background. (Photo: E. Sandberg). |
Light emitted 14 billion years ago from the primordial plasma of the early Universe is detectable today as the cosmic microwave background radiation. Cosmological models predict the relic radiation should be minutely polarized with a distinctive pattern. This polarization has now been detected by the Degree Angular Scale Interferometer at the US National Science Foundation's Amundsen–Scott South Pole station.
Measurement of polarization with the Degree Angular
Scale Interferometer
E. M. LEITCH , J. M. KOVAC
, C. PRYKE , J. E. CARLSTROM , N. W. HALVERSON, W. L. HOLZAPFEL, M. DRAGOVAN ,
B. REDDALL & E. S. SANDBERG
Nature 420, 763–771 (2002);
doi:10.1038/nature01271
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Detection of polarization in the cosmic microwave background
using DASI
J. M. KOVAC , E. M. LEITCH , C. PRYKE
, J. E. CARLSTROM , N. W. HALVERSON & W. L. HOLZAPFEL
Nature 420,
772–787 (2002); doi:10.1038/nature01269
| Summary
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Cosmology: Background comes to the fore
MATIAS
ZALDARRIAGA
The cosmic microwave background radiation is a unique source of
information about the early Universe. The detection of its polarization could
lead to confirmation of an inflationary phase soon after the Big Bang.
Nature
420, 747–748 (2002); doi:10.1038/420747a
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Text (HTML / PDF) |
