Cosmic Variance of the Three-Point Correlation Function of the Cosmic Microwave Background

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (46) References (10) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Cosmic Variance of the Three-Point Correlation Function of the Cosmic Microwave Background Srednicki, Mark Abstract The fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation may contain deviations from gaussian statistics which would be reflected in a nonzero value of three-point correlation function of $\Delta T$. However, any potential observation of the three-point function is limited by cosmic variance, even if a whole-sky map of $\Delta T$ is available. Here I derive a general formula for the cosmic variance of the three-point function in terms of integrals over the two-point function. This formula can be applied to any cosmological model and to any experimental measurement strategy. It gives a fundamental lower limit on the magnitude of a measurable three-point correlation function, and hence on the measurable amount of skewness in the distribution of $\Delta T$. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: October 1993 DOI: 10.1086/187056 arXiv: arXiv:astro-ph/9306012 Bibcode: 1993ApJ...416L...1S Keywords: COSMOLOGY: COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND; COSMOLOGY: THEORY; Astrophysics; High Energy Physics - Phenomenology E-Print: 8 pages, Plain TeX + 2 figures (included), some issues clarified and minor errors corrected full text sources arXiv | ADS |