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Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). By Susan Creager April 20, 2006. Two theoretical principles of the Big Bang. General Relativity The Cosmological Principal. General Relativity.

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Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)

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  1. Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) By Susan Creager April 20, 2006

  2. Two theoretical principles of the Big Bang • General Relativity • The Cosmological Principal

  3. General Relativity • Gravity is not a field, but a distortion of space and time. This applies to bodies at motion as well as at rest. Its speed is the speed of light.

  4. The Cosmological Principle • Matter is distributed evenly when averaged over large areas.

  5. Three theories of the shape of the universe

  6. Observational Tests of the Big Bang • Expansion of the Universe • Abundance of the light elements H, He, Li • The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

  7. Cosmic Background Radiation – the radiant heat left over from the Big Bang. It formed a few thousand years after the Big Bang before stars and galaxies.

  8. Why Study CMBR?

  9. Visible Stars • 10-100 years ago

  10. Andromeda Galaxy • 2.5 million years ago

  11. Hubble Telescope • A few billion years ago

  12. What is in the universe? • Radiation – massless or nearly massless particles that travel at the speed of light. These include photons and neutrinos. • Baryonic matter – protons, neutrons, and electrons • Dark matter – not observed, but suspected • Dark energy – the only form of matter that can cause the universe to speed up

  13. Composition of the Universe

  14. Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) 3.8 x 5 meters 840 Kg Its purpose is to map the temperature fluctuations of the CMBR.

  15. WMAP – launched in June 2001 Launched in 2001, it was originally meant to be a 27 month mission. NASA later extended its time frame.

  16. Original Logo – Wilkinson was added preceding MAP to honor Dr. David Wilkinson, a member of the team and a pioneer in cosmic background radiation.

  17. Anisotropy • Fluctuations in cosmic background radiation. CMBR is very cold – only 2.725 degrees above absolute zero. • Fluctuations may range very slightly from 2.7251 and 2.7249 degrees in one portion of the sky.

  18. Red areas are warmer • Blue areas are cooler • White lines show “polarization” direction of old light

  19. Early cosmic background radiationMaterial is gravitationally pulling togetherStars are formingGalaxies are formingThe present sky

  20. References • http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkinson_Microwave_Anisotropy_Probe • http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/M/Microwave_Anisotropy_Probe.html

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