Chapter 7: One of the flashes of the universe

Wang Miao drove along Jingmi Road to Miyun County, then turned to Heilongtan, and walked another section of winding mountain road, and then arrived at the radio astronomy observation base of the National Astronomical Observation Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He saw twenty-eight parabolic antennas with a diameter of nine meters in twilight, like a row of spectacular steel plants. Two tall 50-meter-diameter radio telescope antennas built in 2006 stood at the end of this row of nine-meter antennas. As the car approached, they reminded Wang Miao of the background of the photo of Yang Dong and his daughter.

But Ye Wenjie's students' projects have nothing to do with these radio telescopes. Dr. Sharishan's laboratory mainly receives observation data from three satellites: the microwave background detection satellite COBE, which was about to be eliminated, the Wilkinson microwave anisotropic detection satellite WMAP, launched in 2001, and the Planck high-precision cosmic microwave background detection satellite launched by the European Space Agency in 2009.

The microwave background radiation spectrum of the entire universe is very precisely consistent with the blackbody radiation spectrum with a temperature of 2.726K, which is highly isotropic, but there are amplitudes of about five-parts of a million in different parts. Sharishan’s work is to re-draw a more accurate background image of the entire universe microwave radiation based on satellite observation data. This laboratory is not big, and the main room is filled with satellite data receiving equipment, and three terminals display data from three satellites respectively.

When Sha Ruishan saw Wang Miao, he immediately showed the enthusiasm of those who had been working in a lonely place to meet the guests for a long time, and asked him which aspects of observation data he wanted to know.

"I want to observe the overall fluctuations in the background radiation of the universe."

"Can you... say more specific?" Sha Ruishan's eyes became strange when he looked at Wang Miao.

"That is, the isotropic fluctuations of the overall 3K microwave background radiation in the universe have an amplitude of between one percent and five percent."

Sha Ruishan smiled. As early as the beginning of this century, the Miyun Radio Astronomy Base was open to tourists. In order to earn some extra money, Sha Ruishan often did some tour guides or lectures. This smile was often revealed when he answered the questions of tourists (he has adapted to those terrifying scientific blindness). "Mr. Wang, you... aren't you doing this major, right?"

"I'm working on nanomaterials."

"Oh, that's right. However, you probably have some understanding of the 3K background radiation in the universe?"

"I don't know much. The current theory of origin of the universe believes that the universe was born in a big explosion about 14 billion years ago. In the early days of its birth, the temperature of the universe was extremely high and then began to cool down, forming an "ember" called microwave background radiation. This residual background radiation that spreads throughout the universe can be observed in the centimeter band. It seems that in 1960s, two Americans accidentally discovered the background radiation of the universe while debugging a high-precision satellite reception antenna..."

"Enough," Sha Ruishan waved his hand and interrupted Wang Miao's words, "Then you should know that unlike the tiny inhomogeneity of the different parts we observe, the overall radiation background fluctuations of the universe change slowly on the cosmic time scale as the universe expands. With the accuracy of the Planck satellite, this change may not be measured until a million years later. But you want to find its fluctuation of five percent tonight?! Do you know what this means? This means that the entire universe flashes like a broken fluorescent tube!"

And it was flashing for me, Wang Miao said in his heart.

"What are you kidding about Teacher Ye?" Sha Ruishan shook his head and said.

"I hope it's a joke." Wang Miao said, wanting to tell him that Ye Wenjie didn't know the details, but was afraid that it would lead to his rejection, but this was what he said in his heart.

"Since it was explained by Teacher Ye, just observe it. It's not a hard time anyway. Just use an old antique COBE with one percent accuracy." Sha Ruishan said, and he was busy on the terminal. Soon a straight green line appeared on the screen. "Look, this is the real-time numerical curve of the current overall background radiation of the universe. Oh, it should be called a straight line. The value is 2.726±0.010K. The error is the Doppler effect generated by the movement of the Milky Way, which has been filtered out. If the fluctuation of more than one percent amplitude occurs, the line will turn red and display the fluctuations. I bet it will also be a green line until the end of the world. To see it show changes that can be seen by the naked eye, it may take longer to wait than to see the sun destruction."

"This won't affect your normal work, right?"

"Of course not. With such a rough precision, it is enough to use COBE to observe the scraps of data. Well, from now on, if that great fluctuation occurs, the value will be automatically saved."

"Maybe it's going to wait till one o'clock in the morning."

"Wow, so precise? It doesn't matter, I'm on night shift anyway. Have you had a meal? Well, I'll take you to visit."

There was no moon that night, and they walked along the long array of antennas. Sharishan pointed to the antenna and said, "Isn't it spectacular? Unfortunately, they are all deaf ears."

"Why?"

"Since they were built, they have been interfering in the observation frequency band. First, the paging stations in the late 1980s, and now they are crazy-developing mobile communications. Most of the projects that these meter wave integrated aperture radio telescopes can do, such as meter wave sky survey, radio change sources, supernova relics research, etc., cannot be carried out normally. I have looked for the committee (National Radio Management Committee) many times, but it is useless. Can we play China Mobile, China Unicom, and Netcom? Without money, the mystery of the universe is a ball! Fortunately, my project relies on satellite data and has nothing to do with these 'tourism landscapes'."

"In recent years, many basic research has been very successful in commercial operation, such as high-energy physics. It should be better to build observation bases farther from the city, right?"

"That's still a matter of money. For the moment, it can only be technically blocking interference. Alas, it's better for Teacher Ye to be there. She has a deep attainment in this regard."

Then, they came to an all-night bar for tourists. Sha Ruishan poured beer one after another, becoming more talkative. The topic focused on Ye Wenjie. From her students, Wang Miao learned about her first half of her life through the wind and frost.
Chapter completed!