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Measurements of B-mode Polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background from 500 Square Degrees of SPTpol Data
- Source :
- Phys. Rev. D 101, 122003 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- We report a B-mode power spectrum measurement from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization anisotropy observations made using the SPTpol instrument on the South Pole Telescope. This work uses 500 deg$^2$ of SPTpol data, a five-fold increase over the last SPTpol B-mode release. As a result, the bandpower uncertainties have been reduced by more than a factor of two, and the measurement extends to lower multipoles: $52 < \ell < 2301$. Data from both 95 and 150 GHz are used, allowing for three cross-spectra: 95 GHz x 95 GHz, 95 GHz x 150 GHz, and 150 GHz x 150 GHz. B-mode power is detected at very high significance; we find $P(BB < 0) = 5.8 \times 10^{-71}$, corresponding to a $18.1 \sigma$ detection of power. An upper limit is set on the tensor-to-scalar ratio, $r < 0.44$ at 95% confidence (the expected $1 \sigma$ constraint on $r$ given the measurement uncertainties is 0.22). We find the measured B-mode power is consistent with the Planck best-fit $\Lambda$CDM model predictions. Scaling the predicted lensing B-mode power in this model by a factor Alens, the data prefer Alens = $1.17 \pm 0.13$. These data are currently the most precise measurements of B-mode power at $\ell > 320$.<br />Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to PRD
- Subjects :
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Journal :
- Phys. Rev. D 101, 122003 (2020)
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.1910.05748
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.122003