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arXiv · 1105.2940

How Sensitive is the CMB to a Single Lens?

Ben Rathaus·Anastasia Fialkov·Nissan Itzhaki
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Abstract

We study the imprints of a single lens, that breaks statistical isotropy, on the CMB and calculate the signal to noise ratio (S/N) for its detection. We emphasize the role of non-Gaussianities induced by LCDM weak lensing in this calculation and show that typically the S/N is much smaller than expected. In particular we find that the hypothesis that a void (texture) is responsible for the WMAP cold spot can barely (cannot) be tested via weak lensing of the CMB.

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Ben Rathaus, Anastasia Fialkov, Nissan Itzhaki. 2011-05-15. How Sensitive is the CMB to a Single Lens?. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2011/06/033

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