EVIDENCE FOR SCALE-SCALE CORRELATIONS IN THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND-RADIATION

We perform a discrete wavelet analysis of the Cosmic Background Explor er differential microwave radiometer (DMR) 4-yr sky maps and find a si gnificant scale-scale correlation on angular scales from about 11 degr ees to 22 degrees, only in the DMR face centered on the north galactic pole. This non-Gaussian signature does not arise either from the know n foregrounds or the correlated noise maps, nor is it consistent with upper limits an the residual systematic errors in the DMR maps. Either the scale-scale correlations are caused by an unknown foreground cont aminate or systematic errors on angular scales as large as 22 degrees, or the standard inflation plus cold dark matter paradigm is ruled out at the >99% confidence level. [S0031-9007(98)07712-6].