Small-scale cosmic microwave background observations at 8.4 GHz

R. Bruce Partridge; Eric A. Richards; Edward B. Fomalont; K. I. Kellerman; Rogier Windhorst

doi:10.1086/304226

Small-scale cosmic microwave background observations at 8.4 GHz

R. Bruce Partridge, Eric A. Richards, Edward B. Fomalont, K. I. Kellerman, Rogier Windhorst

Physics

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51 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have used the Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at 8.44 GHz to image a ∼40 arcmin² field with an uprecedented rms sensitivity of 1.5 μJy. After correcting for the effects of discrete foreground radio sources, we examined this most sensitive microwave image of the sky for fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation (CBR). At the 6″ resolution of our VLA map, ΔT/T ≈ (0.7 ±0.8) × 10^-4, with an upper limit of 1.3 × 10^-4 at 95% confidence. At 1′ resolution, we measure a fluctuation amplitude of ΔT/T = (1.2 ± 1.4) × 10^-5. We also report on our observations of the linear and circular polarization of the CBR for which we derive upper limits (at 95% confidence) of ΔT/T ≤ 1.1 × 10^-5 and ΔT/T ≤ 1.6 × 10^-5, respectively, on an angular scale of 1′.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	38-50
Number of pages	13
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	483
Issue number	1 PART I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/304226
State	Published - 1997

Keywords

Cosmic microwave background
Cosmology: observations
Radio continuum: general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/304226

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@article{d6bdef47a4a2472dbb62806c79e4bda1,

title = "Small-scale cosmic microwave background observations at 8.4 GHz",

abstract = "We have used the Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at 8.44 GHz to image a ∼40 arcmin2 field with an uprecedented rms sensitivity of 1.5 μJy. After correcting for the effects of discrete foreground radio sources, we examined this most sensitive microwave image of the sky for fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation (CBR). At the 6″ resolution of our VLA map, ΔT/T ≈ (0.7 ±0.8) × 10-4, with an upper limit of 1.3 × 10-4 at 95% confidence. At 1′ resolution, we measure a fluctuation amplitude of ΔT/T = (1.2 ± 1.4) × 10-5. We also report on our observations of the linear and circular polarization of the CBR for which we derive upper limits (at 95% confidence) of ΔT/T ≤ 1.1 × 10-5 and ΔT/T ≤ 1.6 × 10-5, respectively, on an angular scale of 1′.",

keywords = "Cosmic microwave background, Cosmology: observations, Radio continuum: general",

author = "Partridge, {R. Bruce} and Richards, {Eric A.} and Fomalont, {Edward B.} and Kellerman, {K. I.} and Rogier Windhorst",

year = "1997",

doi = "10.1086/304226",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "483",

pages = "38--50",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "1 PART I",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Small-scale cosmic microwave background observations at 8.4 GHz

AU - Partridge, R. Bruce

AU - Richards, Eric A.

AU - Fomalont, Edward B.

AU - Kellerman, K. I.

AU - Windhorst, Rogier

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - We have used the Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at 8.44 GHz to image a ∼40 arcmin2 field with an uprecedented rms sensitivity of 1.5 μJy. After correcting for the effects of discrete foreground radio sources, we examined this most sensitive microwave image of the sky for fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation (CBR). At the 6″ resolution of our VLA map, ΔT/T ≈ (0.7 ±0.8) × 10-4, with an upper limit of 1.3 × 10-4 at 95% confidence. At 1′ resolution, we measure a fluctuation amplitude of ΔT/T = (1.2 ± 1.4) × 10-5. We also report on our observations of the linear and circular polarization of the CBR for which we derive upper limits (at 95% confidence) of ΔT/T ≤ 1.1 × 10-5 and ΔT/T ≤ 1.6 × 10-5, respectively, on an angular scale of 1′.

AB - We have used the Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at 8.44 GHz to image a ∼40 arcmin2 field with an uprecedented rms sensitivity of 1.5 μJy. After correcting for the effects of discrete foreground radio sources, we examined this most sensitive microwave image of the sky for fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation (CBR). At the 6″ resolution of our VLA map, ΔT/T ≈ (0.7 ±0.8) × 10-4, with an upper limit of 1.3 × 10-4 at 95% confidence. At 1′ resolution, we measure a fluctuation amplitude of ΔT/T = (1.2 ± 1.4) × 10-5. We also report on our observations of the linear and circular polarization of the CBR for which we derive upper limits (at 95% confidence) of ΔT/T ≤ 1.1 × 10-5 and ΔT/T ≤ 1.6 × 10-5, respectively, on an angular scale of 1′.

KW - Cosmic microwave background

KW - Cosmology: observations

KW - Radio continuum: general

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U2 - 10.1086/304226

DO - 10.1086/304226

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0010653223

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 483

SP - 38

EP - 50

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 PART I

ER -

Small-scale cosmic microwave background observations at 8.4 GHz

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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