The Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy Experiments

Abstract

This paper reports a summary of the contents contents of six hours of lectures on the CMB anisotropy experiments given at the Strasbourg NATO school on the CMB and cosmology. (Its companion paper, astro-ph/9705101 reports the lectures on the CMB spectrum.) A context is set as a bridge from the theoretical CMB anisotropy lectures and the experimental situation. The COBE DMR results are reveiwed in detail and as pioneer for future space missions. Current and planned experiments are discussed in preference to reviewing already completed observations. The NASA MidEX mission MAP is discussed in some detail including figures. The ESA M3 mission Max Planck Surveyor is also reviewed in some detail though its final configuration is not yet fully settled. The recent history and current versions are presented. Tables and references for experiments are included.