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arXiv · 1006.0832

Polarizing Bubble Collisions

Bartlomiej Czech·Matthew Kleban·Klaus Larjo·Thomas S. Levi·Kris Sigurdson
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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.

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Bartlomiej Czech, Matthew Kleban, Klaus Larjo, Thomas S. Levi, Kris Sigurdson. 2010-06-04. Polarizing Bubble Collisions. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2010/12/023

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