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THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is the radiation left over from the big
bang. Recent analysis of the fluctuations in this radiation has given us valuable
insights into our Universe and its parameters.
This textbook examines the theory of CMB and its recent progress. It starts with a
brief introduction to modern cosmology and its main esses, followed by a thor-
ough derivation of cosmological perturbation theory. It then explores the generation
of initial fluctuations by inflation. In the following chapters the Boltzmann equa-
tion, which governs the evolution of CMB anisotropies, and polarization are derived
using the total angular momentum method. Cosmological parameter estimation is
discussed in detail. The lensing of CMB fluctuations and spectral distortions are
also treated.
The book is the first to contain a full derivation of the theory of CMB anisotropies
and polarization. Ideal for graduate students and researchers in this field, the text-
book includes end-of-chapter exercises, and solutions to selected exercises are
provided.
Ruth Durrer is Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Universit´edeGenève.
Her research focuses on the cosmic microwave background, cosmic ic fields
and braneworld cosmology.
THE COSMIC MICROWAVE
BACKGROUND
RUTH DURRER
UniversitedeGen´ eve`
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo
Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
Information on this title: 0521847049
© R. Durrer 2008
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision of
relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place
without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published in print format 2008
ISBN-13 978-0-