Wandering in the Background:

A Cosmic Microwave Background Explorer

W.Hu


Abstract


Files

Front Material (158K PDF) i
--List of Figures viii
--List of Tables x
--Preface xi
--Acknowledgements xiii
1. Overview (417K PDF) 1
--1.1 Cosmological Background 1
--1.2 Anisotropy Formation 6
--1.3 Anisotropy Spectrum 18
--1.4 Robustness to Initial Conditions 20
--1.5 Reionization 22
2. Boltzmann Equation (265K PDF) 25
--2.1 Gravitational Interactions 26
--2.2 Compton Scattering 31
3. Thermalization and Spectral Distortions (638K PDF) 43
--3.1 Collision Equations 44
--3.2 Thermalization Optical Depths and Rates 47
--3.3 Low Frequency Evolution 57
--3.4 High Frequency Evolution 66
--3.5 Comparisons and Constraints 73
4. Multifluid Perturbation Theory (346K PDF) 81
--4.1 Normal Mode Decomposition Theory 82
--4.2 Newtonian Gauge Evolution 88
--4.3 Gauge 97
5. Perturbation Evolution (467K PDF) 107
--5.1 Superhorizon Evolution 108
--5.2 Subhorizon Evolution before Recombination 117
--5.3 Matter Evolution after Recombination 127
6. Primary Anisotropies (1.4MB PDF) 131
--6.1 Overview 131
--6.2 Sachs-Wolfe Effect 135
--6.3 Acoustic Peaks 152
7. Secondary Anisotropies (636K PDF) 161
--7.1 Linear Contributions 162
--7.2 Second Order Contributions 176
--7.3 Beyond Perturbation Theory: A Survey 184
--7.4 Final Thoughts 186
Bibliography (80K PDF) 188
A. Toward Higher Accuracy: A CDM Example 197
--A.1 Refining the Gravitational Potentials 198
--A.2 Analytic Construction to 5% Accuracy 203
--A.3 Toward 1% Accuracy 210
B. Useful Quantities and Relations (232K PDF) 219
--B.1 FRW Parameters 219
--B.2 Time Variables 221
--B.3 Critical Scales 226
--B.4 Normalization Conventions 229
--B.5 Symbol Index 233


Publication Info


whu@ias.edu