Published April 1991
| Version v1
Journal article
Did the universe recombine?
Creators
- 1. Toronto, University (Canada)
- 2. California, University, Berkeley (USA)
Description
The Zel'dovich-Sunyaev model-independent arguments for the existence of a neutral hydrogen phase is reviewed in light of new limits on the Compton y parameter from COBE. It is concluded that with baryon densities compatible with standard cosmological nucleosynthesis, the universe could have remained fully ionized throughout its history without producing a detectable spectral distortion. It is argued that it is unlikely that spectral observations of the cosmic microwave background will ever require the universe to have recombined for flat cosmologies. 22 refs
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Astrophysical Journal
- Journal Volume
- 371
- Series
- Astrophys. J.
- Journal Page Range
- 8-13
- ISSN
- 0004-637X
- CODEN
- ASJOA
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 22079006
- Subject category
- S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
- Descriptors DEI
- BARYONS; COSMOLOGICAL MODELS; COSMOLOGY; IONIZATION; IONIZED GASES; LIMITING VALUES; NUCLEOSYNTHESIS; RELICT RADIATION; UNIVERSE
- Descriptors DEC
- ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; FERMIONS; FLUIDS; GASES; HADRONS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MICROWAVE RADIATION; RADIATIONS; SYNTHESIS