Topological Analysis of COBE-DMR CMB Maps

Abstract

Geometric characteristics of random fields are exploited to test the consistency of density perturbation model spectra with COBE data. These CMB maps are analyzed using the number of anisotropy hot spots and their boundary curvature. CMB maps which account for instrumental effects and sky coverage are Monte Carlo generated. These simulations show that a scale invariant Harrison-Zeldovich primordial Gaussian density fluctuation spectrum is consistent with the data. The CMB fluctuation coherence angle, based on boundary curvature, gives a spectral index n = 1.2 +- 0.3.