A note on the birefringence angle estimation in CMB data analysis

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2016/05/020· OSTI ID:22667574

Gruppuso, A. ^[1]; Maggio, G. ^[2]; Molinari, D.

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1. INAF, Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica di Bologna, via P. Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna (Italy)
2. INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G.B. Tiepolo 11, Trieste (Italy)

Parity violating physics beyond the standard model of particle physics induces a rotation of the linear polarization of photons. This effect, also known as cosmological birefringence (CB), can be tested with the observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies which are linearly polarized at the level of 5–10%. In particular CB produces non-null CMB cross correlations between temperature and B mode-polarization, and between E- and B-mode polarization. Here we study the properties of the so called D-estimators, often used to constrain such an effect. After deriving the framework of both frequentist and Bayesian analysis, we discuss the interplay between birefringence and weak-lensing, which, albeit parity conserving, modifies pre-existing TB and EB cross correlation.

• OSTI ID: 22667574
• Journal Information: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Journal Issue: 05 Vol. 2016; ISSN 1475-7516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ANISOTROPY
BIREFRINGENCE
CORRELATIONS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
DATA ANALYSIS
GRAVITATIONAL LENSES
PARITY
PHOTONS
POLARIZATION
RELICT RADIATION
ROTATION
STANDARD MODEL