Cosmic Microwave Map Swirls Indicate Inflation
Explanation:
Did the universe undergo an early epoch of extremely rapid expansion?
Such an
inflationary epoch
has been postulated to explain several
puzzling cosmic attributes such as why our universe looks
similar in opposite directions.
Yesterday,
results were released
showing an expected signal of unexpected strength, bolstering a prediction of
inflation
that specific patterns of
polarization
should exist in
cosmic microwave background radiation --
light emitted 13.8 billion years ago as the
universe first became transparent.
Called
B-mode polarizations, these early swirling patterns can be directly
attributed to squeeze and stretch
effects that
gravitational radiation
has on photon-emitting electrons.
The
surprising results were
discovered in
data from the
Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization 2
(
BICEP2) microwave observatory
near the South Pole.
BICEP2 is the building-mounted
dish
pictured above on the left.
Note how the black polarization vectors appear to swirl around the colored temperature
peaks on the inset
microwave sky map.
Although statistically
compelling,
the conclusions will likely remain
controversial while
confirmation attempts
are made with independent observations.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
