CMB Analysis of Boomerang & Maxima & the Cosmic Parameters {Ω tot ,Ω b h 2 , Ω cdm h 2 , Ω Λ , n s }

We show how estimates of parameters characterizing inflation-based theories of structure formation localized over the past year when large scale structure (LSS) information from galaxy and cluster surveys was combined with the rapidly developing cosmic microwave background (CMB) data, especially from the recent Boomerang and Maxima balloon experiments. All current CMB data plus a relatively weak prior probability on the Hubble constant, age and LSS points to little mean curvature (Ω tot = 1.08±0.06) and nearly scale invariant initial fluctuations ( n s = 1.03±0.08), both predictions of (non-baroque) inflation theory. We emphasize the role that degeneracy among parameters in the L pk = 212 ± 7 position of the (first acoustic) peak plays in defining the Ω tot range upon marginalization over other variables. Though the CDM density is in the expected range (Ω cdm h 2 = 0.17 ± 0.02), the baryon density Ω b h 2 = 0.030 ± 0.005 is somewhat above the independent 0.019 ± 0.002 nucleosynthesis estimates. CMB+LSS gives independent evidence for dark energy (Ω Λ = 0.66 ± 0.06) at the same level as from supernova (SN1) observations, with a phenomenological quintessence equation of state limited by SN1+CMB+LSS to w Q w Q =−1 cosmological constant case.