Objective A scientific and technical cooperation network on the study of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation is set up under this project. The network's experimental research consists of a coordinated investigation of the spectrum and intensity fluctuations of the CMB radiation at all levels: experimental, data analysis, and theoretical interpretation. Measurements of the temperature anisotropies and spectrum of the CMB and related radiations are being carried out by several radiotelescopes installed in various EC countries. Additionally, this experimental part of the project involves the development of new technology in the fields of scientific instrumentation and engineering science. Data acquisition and analysis requires the extension of existing software packages and new software developments. In analysing the data, especial emphasis will be given to the use of new alternative satistical methods. On the theoretical side, a precise modelling of the emission from several galactic contributions will be performed in order to disentangle the galactic and cosmic radiations. The project aims to interpret new anisotropy measurements of the CMB on large angular scales in the context of standard galaxy formation models. The study of the CMB radiation spectrum is providing information on the thermal history of the intergalactic medium.Structure in the temperature of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at 15 and 33 GHz has been detected. Anisotropy in the temperature of the CMB at centimetric and millimetric wavelengths of amplitude approximately 40 uk has been detected. Observations of lithium hydride lines with the IRAM telescope limit the lithium abundance at 10E-9 for redshifts Z between 4 and 40. Topological analysis of the first year data from the cosmic background explorer (COBE) resulted in a spectral index of the matter density fluctuations with power spectrum of index 0.4. Nonlinear evolution of galaxy clustering produces anisotropies in the temperature of the CMB of amplitude Delta T/T between 10E-6 and 10E-5. Gravitational waves can significantly contribute to the anisotropy of the CMB for low order multipoles; approximately 10% of polarization is also expected. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencenatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyobservational astronomygravitational wavesnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metalsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware developmentnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyphysical cosmologygalaxy evolution Programme(s) FP3-HCM - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of human capital and mobility, 1990-1994 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Universidad de Cantabria EU contribution No data Address Avda. de Los Castros 39005 Santander Spain See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUTO DE ASTROFÍSICA DE CANARIAS Spain EU contribution No data Address Via Lactea, s/n 38205 LA LAGUNA See on map Total cost No data THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Keble Road 1- Denys Wilkinson Building OX1 3RH OXFORD See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address SK11 9DL MACCLESFIELD See on map Total cost No data Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza Italy EU contribution No data Address Piazzale Aldo Moro 2/5 00185 Roma See on map Total cost No data École Normale Supérieure France EU contribution No data Address 24 rue Lhomond 75231 Paris See on map Total cost No data
