Long-wavelength measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation spectrum

Abstract

We have measured the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation at wavelengths of 0.33, 3.0, 8.2 and 21.3 cm. These measurements represent a continuation of the work reported by Smoot et al. (1985). The new results have a weighted average of 2.70 {+-} 0.05 K and are consistent with past measurements. They limit the possible distortion of the cosmic microwave background radiation spectrum to less than 6%. The results of all measurements to date are consistent with a Planckian spectrum with temperature 2.74 {+-} 0.02 K spanning a wavelength range of 0.1 to 21 cm.