The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

Abstract

We summarize the theoretical and observational status of the study of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. Its thermodynamic spectrum is a robust prediction of the Hot Big Bang cosmology and has been confirmed observationally. There are now 76 observations of Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy, which we present in a table with references. We discuss the theoretical origins of these anisotropies and explain the standard jargon associated with their observation.

Review article to appear in David Schramm Memorial Volume of Physics Reports, 29 pages, color figures and complete table of CMB anisotropy observations also available at http://mamacass.ucsd.edu/people/gawiser/cmb.html