The angular power spectrum that quantifies CMB temperature fluctuations.
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum is a cornerstone of modern cosmology. It maps the tiny temperature fluctuations in the universe’s oldest light, revealing the composition, geometry, and evolution of the cosmos from the Planck epoch to the present day.
The damping tail is the high-multipole region of the cosmic microwave background power spectrum where temperature fluctuations are exponentially suppressed by photon diffusion and Silk damping. It provides a precise probe of the baryon density, the epoch of recombination, and the physics of the early universe, and has been measured by COBE, WMAP, and Planck.
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum is the definitive statistical tool for decoding the seed fluctuations that grew into today’s cosmic web. This interactive reference explains its origin, the epochs it probes, and how missions like COBE, WMAP, and Planck have transformed our understanding of the universe.
