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The Amazing Discovery of 1965: How Arnold Penzias and Robert Wilson Changed Cosmology
In 1965, while conducting radio astronomy research at Bell Laboratories in the United States, Arnold Penzias and Robert Wilson accidentally discovered a weak microwave background radiation. This discovery not only subverted the scientific understanding at the time, but also Provides crucial evidence for our understanding of the origin of the universe. The cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) they discovered is considered to be strong support for the Big Bang theory and provides key clues to the evolution of the universe.
"We have tried to explain this phenomenon, but we have never been able to find a reasonable reason."
The original research began in the 1940s, when scientists like Hosier developed multiple theories to explain the origin of the universe and its cooling process. However, it was after Penzias and Wilson's discoveries that these theories were established and empirically supported. The uniformity of these microwave background radiations established the hypothesis of expansion and cooling of the universe, and also guided many subsequent studies and explorations.
Measurements and analyzes of the cosmic microwave background radiation reveal many details of our current model of the universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe was filled with high-energy-density hot plasma in its first seconds. Over the next hundreds of thousands of years, as the universe expanded, these particles cooled, forming neutral hydrogen atoms and no longer scattering light, allowing photons to pass freely. This process is called the "reorganization period."
“The photons released during the recombination period change their energy as the universe expands. This phenomenon forms the cosmic microwave background we detect today.”
Subsequent observing instruments, including COBE, WMAP and Planck, further analyzed the characteristics of these microwave background radiations and revealed temperature variability in different directions. These variability not only show the complex process of interaction between matter and photons in the early universe, but also reflect the overall structure of the universe and its evolutionary history.
Importantly, the different peaks of the CMB provide key information about the early universe. The first peak points out the overall curvature of the universe, while the second and third peaks reveal the density of normal and dark matter. In these studies, there are challenges in accurately extracting CMB data, including interference from foreground features such as galaxy clusters.
“Even within extremely small variations, we are still able to measure multiple properties of the universe with high precision.”
Since the 1960s, with the continuous progress of theory, the cosmic microwave background radiation is considered to be the best evidence for understanding the universe. The various polarization signals in this background and the small changes in their spectrum will further reveal the secrets of the early universe. As new technologies develop, scientists expect to obtain more convincing data in the coming decades that will deepen our understanding of the primordial universe and the formation of structures.
A historical review allows us to understand that the unexpected discovery of Penzias and Wilson was not just a scientific accident, but revealed the evolution of the universe and the key to future exploration. So, how should we face future exploration? What about the origin and evolution of the universe?
