The polarization signature of local bulk flows

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/781/2/98· OSTI ID:22348105

Roebber, Elinore; Holder, Gilbert ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 2T8 (Canada)

A large peculiar velocity of the intergalactic medium produces a Doppler shift of the cosmic microwave background with a frequency-dependent quadrupole term. This quadrupole will act as a source for polarization of the cosmic microwave background, creating a large-scale polarization anisotropy if the bulk flow is local and coherent on large scales. In the case where we are near the center of the moving region, the polarization signal is a pure quadrupole. We show that the signal is small, but detectable with future experiments for bulk flows as large as some recent reports.

• OSTI ID: 22348105
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 781, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ANISOTROPY
BACKGROUND RADIATION
DOPPLER EFFECT
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
INTERGALACTIC SPACE
POLARIZATION
QUADRUPOLES
RELICT RADIATION
UNIVERSE
VELOCITY