Last scattering, relic gravitons, and the circular polarization of the CMB

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.81.123003· OSTI ID:21408025

Giovannini, Massimo ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Theory Division, CERN, 1211 Geneva 23 (Switzerland) and INFN, Section of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan (Italy)

The tensor contribution to the V-mode polarization induced by a magnetized plasma at last scattering vanishes exactly when the magnetic field is parallel to the direction of propagation of the gravitational wave. For propagation perpendicular to the magnetic field orientation the effect depends on the ratio between the Larmor frequency of the electrons and the observational frequency. If the source term of the V-mode equation is averaged over the directions of the magnetic field, the circular polarization evolves independently from all the other Stokes parameters.

• OSTI ID: 21408025
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 81; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GRAVITATIONAL RADIATION
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
GRAVITONS
LARMOR RADIUS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PLASMA
POLARIZATION
POSTULATED PARTICLES
RADIATIONS
RELICT RADIATION
SCATTERING
STOKES PARAMETERS
WAVE PROPAGATION