THE OBSERVABILITY OF TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS WITH GROUND-BASED INTERFEROMETERS

Topological defect theories lead to non-Gaussian features on maps of f luctuations of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR), which enable us to distinguish them from maps predicted by standard inflati onary models. We have recently presented a maximum entropy method (MEM ) which simultaneously deconvolves interferometer maps of CMBR fluctua tions, and separates out foreground contaminants. By applying this met hod to simulated observations using a realistic ground-based interfero meter, we demonstrate that it is possible to recover the prominent hot spots in the CMBR maps which delineate individual defects, even in the presence of a significant Galactic foreground.