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Detection of B-Mode Polarization in the Cosmic Microwave Background with Data from the South Pole Telescope

D. Hanson et al. (SPTpol Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 141301 – Published 30 September 2013
Physics logo See Viewpoint: Matter Adds Twist to Cosmic Microwave Background

Abstract

Gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background generates a curl pattern in the observed polarization. This “B-mode” signal provides a measure of the projected mass distribution over the entire observable Universe and also acts as a contaminant for the measurement of primordial gravity-wave signals. In this Letter we present the first detection of gravitational lensing B modes, using first-season data from the polarization-sensitive receiver on the South Pole Telescope (SPTpol). We construct a template for the lensing B-mode signal by combining E-mode polarization measured by SPTpol with estimates of the lensing potential from a Herschel-SPIRE map of the cosmic infrared background. We compare this template to the B modes measured directly by SPTpol, finding a nonzero correlation at 7.7σ significance. The correlation has an amplitude and scale dependence consistent with theoretical expectations, is robust with respect to analysis choices, and constitutes the first measurement of a powerful cosmological observable.

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  • Received 22 July 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.141301

© 2013 American Physical Society

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Matter Adds Twist to Cosmic Microwave Background

Published 30 September 2013

A microwave telescope at the South Pole has for the first time captured a particular polarization signal in the cosmic microwave background that arises from gravitational lensing by intervening matter.

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Vol. 111, Iss. 14 — 4 October 2013

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