Limits on the detectability of the CMB B-mode polarization imposed by foregrounds

Details Limits on the detectability of the CMB B-mode polarization imposed by foregrounds Limits on the detectability of the CMB B-mode polarization imposed by foregrounds

2004-11-19

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0411567v2

Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 360 (2005) 926-934

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

15 pages, 9 figures, version accepted for publication in MNRAS

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09123.x

We investigate which practical constraints are imposed by foregrounds to the detection of the B-mode polarization generated by gravitational waves in the case of experiments of the type currently being planned. Because the B-mode signal is probably dominated by foregrounds at all frequencies, the detection of the cosmological component depends drastically on our ability for removing foregrounds. We provide an analytical expression to estimate the level of the residual polarization for Galactic foregrounds, according to the method employed for their subtraction. We interpret this result in terms of the lower limit of the tensor-to-scalar ratio r that allows to disentangle the cosmological B-mode polarization from the foregrounds contribution. Polarized emission from extragalactic radio sources and gravitational lensing is also taken into account. As a first approach, we consider the ideal limit of an instrumental noise--free experiment: for a full--sky coverage and a degree resolution, we obtain a limit of r~10^(-4). This value can be improved by high--resolution experiments and, in principle, no clear fundamental limit on the detectability of gravitational waves polarization is found. Our analysis is also applied to planned or hypothetical future polarization experiments, taking into account expected noise levels.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Limits on the detectability of the CMB B-mode polarization imposed by foregrounds does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Limits on the detectability of the CMB B-mode polarization imposed by foregrounds, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Limits on the detectability of the CMB B-mode polarization imposed by foregrounds will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-84926