Although the theory of the Big Bang is on pretty solid ground, there are other competing cosmological theories out there. So any observations that have the capacity to test the Big Bang theory are very welcome - but also hard to do! We are well past the point where existing instruments can get the data we need. As new observational tools become available, we can test our physical theories at increasing detail.
Now new data is available from the Degree Angle Scale Interferometer (DASI), a big telescope near the South Pole, and it reveals just what the Big Bang model predicted.
The new data reveals that the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) is polarised - that is, the light waves coming from space are not wiggling equally in every direction but are preferentially aligned. Polaroid sunglasses work to reduce reflections on the principle that light reflected from a surface is usually polarised. The sunglasses cut out the light with polarisation expected from reflections but let other light through. Essentially, the DASI telescope looks at the sky to see what gets cut out when it looks through the equivalent of a pair of Polaroid sunglasses.
The polarisation of the CMBR is not uniform across the sky but patches are polarised in particular directions. (See the first picture at this page for the polarisation map). The levels of polarisation are exactly those predicted by Big Bang models.
"If you had any doubts that this radiation is from the Big Bang, this should quash them," Dr Michael Turner of the University of Chicago told the New York Times.
Although this is an exciting result for cosmologists, it is just the first step in better understanding cosmology and the early universe. DASI is just one of various sets of giant Polaroid glasses now aimed into the far reaches of the universe. Who knows what visions we may yet see?
(Read the technical paper)
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