A Constraint on Planck-scale Modifications to Electrodynamics with CMB polarization data

Details A Constraint on Planck-scale Modifications to Electrodynamics with CMB polarization data A Constraint on Planck-scale Modifications to Electrodynamics with CMB polarization data

2009-04-21

arxiv.org/abs/0904.3201v1

JCAP 0908:021,2009

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics

16 pages

Scientific paper

10.1088/1475-7516/2009/08/021

We show that the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization data gathered by the BOOMERanG 2003 flight and WMAP provide an opportunity to investigate {\it in-vacuo} birefringence, of a type expected in some quantum pictures of space-time, with a sensitivity that extends even beyond the desired Planck-scale energy. In order to render this constraint more transparent we rely on a well studied phenomenological model of quantum-gravity-induced birefringence, in which one easily establishes that effects introduced at the Planck scale would amount to values of a dimensionless parameter, denoted by $\xi$, with respect to the Planck energy which are roughly of order 1. By combining BOOMERanG and WMAP data we estimate $\xi \simeq -0.110 \pm 0.076$ at the 68% c.l. Moreover, we forecast on the sensitivity to $\xi$ achievable by future CMB polarization experiments (PLANCK, Spider, EPIC), which, in the absence of systematics, will be at the 1-$\sigma$ confidence of $8.5 \times 10^{-4}$ (PLANCK), $6.1 \times 10^{-3}$ (Spider), and $1.0 \times 10^{-5}$ (EPIC) respectively. The cosmic variance-limited sensitivity from CMB is $6.1\times 10^{-6}$.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A Constraint on Planck-scale Modifications to Electrodynamics with CMB polarization data 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 A Constraint on Planck-scale Modifications to Electrodynamics with CMB polarization data, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Constraint on Planck-scale Modifications to Electrodynamics with CMB polarization data will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-371289