The Cosmic Microwave Background Spectrum from the Full COBE* FIRAS Data Set

D. J. Fixsen; E. S. Cheng; J. M. Gales; J. C. Mather; R. A. Shafer; E. L. Wright

doi:10.1086/178173

The Cosmic Microwave Background Spectrum from the Full COBE^* FIRAS Data Set

D. J. Fixsen¹, E. S. Cheng², J. M. Gales¹, J. C. Mather², R. A. Shafer², and E. L. Wright³

© 1996. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 473, Number 2 Citation D. J. Fixsen et al 1996 ApJ 473 576 DOI 10.1086/178173

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¹ Applied Research Corporation, Code 685.3, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD20771

² NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 685, Greenbelt, MD 20771

³ UCLA, Physics and Astronomy Departments, P.O. Box 951562, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1562

Dates

Received 1996 January 19
Accepted 1996 July 11

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Abstract

We have refined the analysis of the data from the FIRAS (Far-InfraRed Absolute Spectrophotometer) on board the COBE (COsmic Background Explorer). The FIRAS measures the difference between the cosmic microwave background and a precise blackbody spectrum. We find new, tighter upper limits on general deviations from a blackbody spectrum. The rms deviations are less than 50 parts per million of the peak of the cosmic microwave background radiation. For the Comptonization and chemical potential, we find |y| < 15 × 10^–6 and |μ| < 9 × 10^–5 (95% confidence level [CL]). There are also refinements in the absolute temperature, 2.728 ± 0.004 K (95% CL), the dipole direction, (1, b)/(264 fdg 14 ± 0.30, 48 fdg 26 ± 0.30) (95% CL), and the amplitude, 3.372 ± 0.014 mK (95% CL). All of these results agree with our previous publications.

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Footnotes

*
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC) is responsible for the design, development, and operation of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE). Scientific guidance is provided by the COBE Science Working Group. GSFC is also responsible for the development of the analysis software and for the production of the mission data sets.