Mapping the Primordial Universe: Theory and Observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background

Recent observations of the afterglow of the Big Bang, commonly referred to as the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation, have greatly advanced our understanding of the early Universe and have helped reinforce the observational foundations of modern cosmology.This volume provides a comprehensive pedagogical overview of all aspects of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation.Topics covered include theory, current observations, instrumentation, statistical analyses and the astrophysics of Galactic and other microwave foregrounds.These latter topics are important as much of the contemporary work in cosmology focuses on perfecting experimental techniques and on mitigating and assessing sources of error.Bringing together the latest research and scientific developments from the primary literature into one book, this is a go-to resource for graduate students and researchers working in cosmology and astrophysics.