Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background

Abstract

The standard model of cosmology must not only explain the dynamics of the homogeneous background universe, but also satisfactorily describe the perturbed universe – the generation, evolution and finally, the formation of large-scale structures in the universe. Cosmic microwave background (CMBcosmic microwave background (CMB)) has been by far the most influential cosmological observation driving advances in current cosmology. Exquisite measurements from CMB experiments have seen the emergence of a concordant cosmological model. Besides precise determination of various parameters of the standard cosmological model, observations have also established some important basic tenets that underlie models of cosmology and structure formation in the universe. The article reviews this aspect of recent progress in cosmology for a general science reader.