A joint study of early and late spectral distortions of the cosmic microwave background and of the millimetric foreground

Abstract

We have compared the absolute temperature data of the CMB spectrum with models for CMB spectra distorted by a single or two heating processes at different cosmic times. The constraints on the fractional energy injected in the radiation field, DE/E, are mainly provided by the FIRAS instrument aboard the COBE satellite. Under the hypothesis that two heating processes have occurred at different epochs, the limits on DE/E are relaxed by a factor 2 both for the earlier and the later process with respect to the case in which a single energy injection in the thermal history of the universe is considered. In general, the constraints on DE/E are weaker for early processes than for relatively late processes, because of the wavelength coverage of FIRAS data. We considered also the FIRAS calibration as revised by Battistelli et al. 2000, that, in the case of the favourite calibrator emissivity law proposed by the authors, implies significant deviations from a planckian spectrum. An astrophysical explanation of this, although intriguing, seems difficult, both in terms of CMB spectral distortions and in terms of a relevant millimetric foreground. Future precise measurements at longer wavelengths as well as current and future CMB anisotropy space missions will provide independent, direct or indirect, cross checks.