Polarizing bubble collisions

Bartłomiej Czech, Matthew Kleban, Klaus Larjo, Thomas S. Levi, Kris Sigurdson

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We predict the polarization of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons that results from a cosmic bubble collision. The polarization is purely E-mode, symmetric around the axis pointing towards the collision bubble, and has several salient features in its radial dependence that can help distinguish it from a more conventional explanation for unusually cold or hot features in the CMB sky. The anomalous "cold spot" detected by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite is a candidate for a feature produced by such a collision, and the Planck satellite and other proposed surveys will measure the polarization on it in the near future. The detection of such a collision would provide compelling evidence for the string theory landscape.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Article number023
    JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
    Volume2010
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Dec 2010

    Keywords

    • CMBR polarisation
    • String theory and cosmology

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Astronomy and Astrophysics

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