The Physics of the Cosmic Microwave Background (Cambridge Astrophysics, Vol. 41) (Cambridge Astrophysics, Series Number 41)

Spectacular observational breakthroughs by recent experiments, and particularly the WMAP satellite, have heralded a new epoch of CMB science forty years after its original discovery. Taking a physical approach, the authors probe the problem of the 'darkness' of the Universe: the origin and evolution of dark energy and matter in the cosmos. Starting with the observational background of modern cosmology, they provide an up-to-date and accessible review of this fascinating yet complex subject. Topics discussed include the kinetics of the electromagnetic radiation in the Universe, the ionization history of cosmic plasmas, the origin of primordial perturbations in light of the inflation paradigm, and the formation of anisotropy and polarization of the CMB. This timely and accessible review will be valuable to advanced students and researchers in cosmology. The text highlights the progress made by recent experiments, including the WMAP satellite, and looks ahead to future CMB experiments. Spectacular observational breakthroughs, particularly by the WMAP satellite, have led to a new epoch of CMB science long after its original discovery. Taking a physical approach, the authors of this volume, which was first published in 2006, probe the problem of the 'darkness' of the Universe: the origin and evolution of dark energy and matter in the cosmos. Starting with the observational background of modern cosmology, they provide an accessible review of this fascinating yet complex subject. Topics discussed include the kinetics of the electromagnetic radiation in the Universe, the ionization history of cosmic plamas, the origin of primordial perturbations in light of the inflation paradigm, and the formation of anisotropy and polarization of the CMB. This fascinating review will be valuable to advanced students and researchers in cosmology. Taking a physical approach, the authors provide an up-to-date and accessible review of this fascinating and complex subject in light of observational breakthroughs made by the WMAP satellite. Highlighting recent progress and looking ahead to future experiments, this text will be valuable to advanced students and researchers in cosmology In a way, the entire history of cosmology from Ptolemy and Aristotle to the present day can be divided into two stages: a period before and a period after the discovery of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Advanced text reviews CMB physics and latest observational data for graduates and researchers in cosmology