Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies Research Articles

Disentangling patchy reionization signatures from primordial gravitational waves using CMB E-mode and B-mode polarization

ABSTRACT The detection of large angular scale B mode in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization signal will open a direct window into not only the primary CMB anisotropies caused by the primordial gravitational waves (PGW) originating in the epoch of inflation, but also the secondary anisotropies imprinted during the epoch of cosmic reionization. The existence of patchiness in the electron density during reionization produces a unique distortion in the CMB B-mode polarization, which can be distinguished from the PGW signal with the aid of spatial frequency modes. In this work, we employ an EB estimator by combining E-mode and B-mode polarization for the τ power spectrum signal generated in a photon-conserving seminumerical reionization model called SCRIPT. We developed a Bayesian framework for the joint detection of the PGW and reionization signal from CMB observations and show the efficacy of this technique for upcoming CMB experiments. We find that, for our model, the τ power spectrum signal effectively tracks the inhomogeneous electron density field, allowing for robust constraints on the patchy B-mode signal. Further, our results indicate that employing the EB estimator for the τ signal will facilitate ground-based CMB-S4 to detect the patchy B-mode signal at approximately ≥2σ confidence level, while observations with space-based PICO will improve this detection to ≥3σ going as high as ≥7σ for extreme reionization models. These findings not only highlight the future potential of these experiments to provide an improved picture of the reionization process but also have important implications towards an unbiased measurement of r.

Minkowski functionals of CMB polarization intensity with pynkowski: theory and application to Planck and future data

ABSTRACT The angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies is a key tool to study the Universe. However, it is blind to the presence of non-Gaussianities and deviations from statistical isotropy, which can be detected with other statistics such as Minkowski functionals (MFs). These tools have been applied to CMB temperature and E-mode anisotropies with no detection of deviations from Gaussianity and isotropy. In this work, we extend the MF formalism to the CMB polarization intensity, P2 = Q2 + U2. We use the Gaussian kinematic formula to derive the theoretical predictions of MFs for Gaussian isotropic fields. We develop a software that computes MFs on P2healpix maps and apply it to simulations to verify the robustness of both theory and methodology. We then estimate MFs of P2 maps from Planck, both in pixel space and needlet domain, comparing them with realistic simulations that include CMB and instrumental noise residuals. We find no significant deviations from Gaussianity or isotropy in Planck CMB polarization intensity. However, MFs could play an important role in the analysis of CMB polarization measurements from upcoming experiments with improved sensitivity. Therefore, we forecast the ability of MFs applied to P2 maps to detect much fainter non-Gaussian anisotropic signals than with Planck data for two future complementary experiments: the LiteBIRD satellite and the ground-based Simons Observatory. We publicly release the software to compute MFs in arbitrary scalar healpix maps as a fully documented python package called pynkowski.

GW_CLASS: Cosmological Gravitational Wave Background in the cosmic linear anisotropy solving system

The anisotropies of the Cosmological Gravitational Wave Background (CGWB) retain information about the primordial mechanisms that source the gravitational waves and about the geometry and the particle content of the universe at early times. In this work, we discuss in detail the computation of the angular power spectra of CGWB anisotropies and of their cross correlation with Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies, assuming different processes for the generation of these primordial signals. We present an efficient implementation of our results in a modified version of CLASS which will be publicly available. By combining our new code GW_CLASS with MontePython, we forecast the combined sensitivity of future gravitational wave interferometers and CMB experiments to the cosmological parameters that characterize the cosmological gravitational wave background.

Conditions for the absence of infrared sensitivity in cosmological probes in any gravity theories

Large-scale surveys allow us to construct cosmological probes such as galaxy clustering, weak gravitational lensing, the luminosity distance, and cosmic microwave background anisotropies. The gauge-invariant descriptions of these cosmological probes reveal the presence of numerous relativistic effects in the cosmological probes, and they are sensitive (or even divergent) to the long wave-length fluctuations in the initial conditions. In the standard ΛCDM model, this infrared sensitivity is absent due to subtle cancellations among the relativistic contributions, once the Einstein equation is used. Here we derive the most general conditions for the absence of infrared sensitivity in the cosmological probes without committing to general relativity. We discuss the implications of our results for gravity theories beyond general relativity.

A bias using the ages of the oldest astrophysical objects to address the Hubble tension

Recently different cosmological measurements have shown a tension in the value of the Hubble constant, H_0. Assuming the Lambda CDM model, the Planck satellite mission has inferred the Hubble constant from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies to be H_0 = 67.4 pm 0.5 , text {km} , text {s}^{-1} , text {Mpc}^{-1}. On the other hand, low redshift measurements such as those using Cepheid variables and supernovae Type Ia (SNIa) have obtained a significantly larger value. For instance, Riess et al. reported H_0 = 73.04 pm 1.04 , text {km} , text {s}^{-1} , text {Mpc}^{-1}, which is 5sigma apart of the prediction from Planck observations. This tension is a major problem in cosmology nowadays, and it is not clear yet if it comes from systematic effects or new physics. The use of new methods to infer the Hubble constant is therefore essential to shed light on this matter. In this paper, we discuss using the ages of the oldest astrophysical objects (OAO) to probe the Hubble tension. We show that, although this data can provide additional information, the method can also artificially introduce a tension. Reanalyzing the ages of 114 OAO, we obtain that the constraint in the Hubble constant goes from slightly disfavoring local measurements to favoring them.

Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB), the Observable and Non-Observable Universes, and Their Respective Distances

Guided by the monumental Big Bang theory, this research paper embarks on a captivating exploration of cosmic vistas, delving into the enigmatic origins of the universe, the enigmatic cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR), and the intricate interplay between observable and non- observable universes. Intricately woven into this cosmic fabric are the pioneering observations of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), and the Planck satellite. These scientific sentinels have charted the CMBR's temperature fluctuations, offering windows into the universe's earliest epochs. COBE's revelation of temperature variations in 1992 solidified the Big Bang theory. WMAP, launched in 2001, delved deeper, unraveling the CMBR's anisotropies and refining cosmic parameter measurements. The Planck satellite, soaring into space in 2009, etched precision onto the cosmic canvas, encapsulating the universe's age, composition, and evolutionary trajectory. This narrative unfolds the epic tale of emergence from a minuscule singularity and the subsequent grand cosmic inflation. At the heart of this cosmic odyssey lies the CMBR, a whispered echo from the universe's primordial dawn that unfolds the saga of its early epochs and the daring journey of the first light. The tapestry of time itself is probed, unveiling the temporal intricacies of these realms shaped by phenomena like redshift and the relentless cosmic expansion. Across a 13.8-billion-year narrative, our observational prowess extends to reveal galaxies within a 46.5 billion light-year radius—43% visible, 57% veiled. Anchored by elegant mathematical frameworks like Hubble's Law, this journey through cosmic mechanics nurtures the growth of understanding and discovery. An expedition both poetic and scientific, this paper unearths the blueprint of the universe, resonating with themes of curiosity and evolution that span unfathomable eons.

A Cross-internal Linear Combination Approach to Probe the Secondary CMB Anisotropies: Kinematic Sunyaev–Zel’dovich Effect and CMB Lensing

We propose a cross-internal linear combination (cross-ILC) approach to measure the small-scale cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies robustly against the contamination from astrophysical signals. In particular, we focus on the mitigation of systematics from cosmic infrared background (CIB) and thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (tSZ) signals in kinematic Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (kSZ) power spectrum and CMB lensing. We show the cross-spectrum measurement between two CMB maps created by nulling the contributions from CIB (CIB-free map) and tSZ (tSZ-free map) to be robust for kSZ, as the approach significantly suppresses the total contribution of CIB and tSZ signals. Similarly, for CMB lensing, we use the approach introduced by Madhavacheril & Hill but with a slight modification by using the tSZ-free and CIB-free maps in the two legs of the quadratic estimator. By cross-correlating the CMB lensing map created using this technique with galaxy surveys, we show that the biases from both CIB and tSZ are negligible. We also compute the impact of unmodeled CIB/tSZ residuals on kSZ and cosmological parameters, finding the kSZ measured using the standard ILC to be significantly biased. The kSZ estimate from the cross-ILC remains less affected by CIB/tSZ, making it crucial for current and upcoming CMB surveys such as the South Pole Telescope (SPT), Simons Observatory (SO), and CMB-S4. With the cross-ILC approach, we find that the total kSZ power spectrum can be measured at very high significance in the coming years: 35σ by SPT, 22σ by SO, and 80σ by CMB-S4. Finally, we forecast constraints on the epoch of reionization using the kSZ power spectrum and find that the duration of reionization, currently unconstrained by Planck, can be constrained to = 1.5 or 0.5 depending on the choice of the prior on the optical depth to reionization. The data products and the associated codes can be downloaded from this link (https://github.com/sriniraghunathan/cross_ilc_methods_paper).

Tomographic Alcock–Paczyński Test with Redshift-space Correlation Function: Evidence for the Dark Energy Equation-of-state Parameter w > −1

The apparent shape of galaxy clustering depends on the adopted cosmology used to convert observed redshift to comoving distance, the r(z) relation, as it changes the line elements along and across the line of sight differently. The Alcock–Paczyński (AP) test exploits this property to constrain the expansion history of the universe. We present an extensive review of past studies on the AP test. We adopt an extended AP test method introduced by Park et al., which uses the full shape of redshift-space two-point correlation function (CF) as the standard shape, and apply it to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7, BOSS, and eBOSS LRG samples covering the redshift range up to z = 0.8. We calibrate the test against the nonlinear cosmology-dependent systematic evolution of the CF shape using Multiverse simulations. We focus on examining whether or not the flat Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) concordance model is consistent with observation. We constrain the flat wCDM model to have and from our AP test alone, which is significantly tighter than the constraints from the BAO or SNe Ia methods by a factor of 3–6. When the AP test result is combined with the recent BAO and SNe Ia results, we obtain and . This puts a strong tension with the flat ΛCDM model with w = −1 at the 4.2σ level. Consistency with w = −1 is obtained only when the Planck cosmic microwave background (CMB) observation is combined. It remains to be seen whether this tension between observations of galaxy distribution at low redshifts and CMB anisotropy at the decoupling epoch becomes greater in future studies and leads us to a new paradigm of cosmology.

Primordial black holes from single-field inflation: a fine-tuning audit

All single-field inflationary models invoke varying degrees of tuning in order to account for cosmological observations. Mechanisms that generate primordial black holes (PBHs) from enhancement of primordial power at small scales posit inflationary potentials that transiently break scale invariance and possibly adiabaticity over a range of modes. This requires additional tuning on top of that required to account for observations at scales probed by cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies. In this paper we study the parametric dependence of various single-field models of inflation that enhance power at small scales and quantify the degree to which coefficients in the model construction have to be tuned in order for certain observables to lie within specified ranges. We find significant tuning: changing the parameters of the potentials by between one part in a hundred and one part in 108 (depending on the model) is enough to change the power spectrum peak amplitude by an order one factor. The fine-tuning of the PBH abundance is larger still by 1–2 orders of magnitude. We highlight the challenges imposed by this tuning on any given model construction. Furthermore, polynomial potentials appear to require significant additional fine-tuning to also match the CMB observations.

Angular correlations on causally-coherent inflationary horizons

We develop a model for correlations of cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy on the largest angular scales, based on standard causal geometrical relationships in slow-roll inflation. Unlike standard models based on quantized field modes, it describes perturbations with nonlocal directional coherence on spherical boundaries of causal diamonds. Causal constraints reduce the number of independent degrees of freedom, impose new angular symmetries, and eliminate cosmic variance for purely angular 2-point correlations. Distortions of causal structure from vacuum fluctuations are modeled as gravitational memory from randomly oriented outgoing and incoming gravitational null shocks, with nonlocally coherent directional displacements on curved surfaces of causal diamonds formed by standard inflationary horizons. The angular distribution is determined by axially symmetric shock displacements on circular intersections of the comoving sphere that represents the CMB photosphere with other inflationary horizons—those centered on it, and those that pass through an observer’s world line. Displacements on thin spheres at the end of inflation have a unique angular power spectrum that approximates the standard expectation on small angular scales, but differs substantially at large angular scales due to horizon curvature. For a thin sphere, the model predicts a universal angular correlation function with an exact ‘causal shadow’ symmetry, , and significant large-angle parity violation. We apply a rank statistic to compare models with WMAP and Planck satellite data, and find that a causally-coherent model with no shape parameters or cosmic variance agrees with the measured better than a large fraction () of standard model realizations. Model-independent tests of holographic causal symmetries are proposed.

IWDM: the fate of an interacting non-cold dark matter — vacuum scenario

In most cosmological models, the equation of state of the dark matter is assumed to be zero, which means that the dark matter is pressure-less or cold. While this hypothesis is based on the abundance of cold dark matter in the universe, however, there is no compelling reason to assume that the equation of state of dark matter is exactly zero. A more general approach would be to allow for a range of values for the dark matter equation of state and use the observational data to determine which values are most likely. With the increasing accuracy of experimental data, we have chosen to explore the possibility of interacting non-cold dark matter - vacuum scenario, where the equation of state of the dark matter is constant but can take different values within a specific range. Using the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies and the CMB lensing reconstruction from the Planck legacy release, plus other non-CMB measurements, namely, the baryon acoustic oscillations distance measurements, and the Pantheon catalogue from Type Ia Supernovae, we have analyzed this scenario and found that a non-zero value for the dark matter equation of state is preferred with a confidence level of over 68%. While this is not significant by itself, however, it does suggest that investigating the possibility of non-cold dark matter in the universe is worth exploring further to gain a better understanding of the nature of dark matter.

Constraints on the non-minimally coupled Witten-O'Raifeartaigh inflation

We investigate the impact of a non-minimal coupling of the scalar field with gravity in inflationary models, where a small coupling is allowed. As a concrete example, we consider the Witten-O'Raifeartaigh model, where, in line with other models, the presence of a coupling strength ξ can recover concordance of the inflationary parameters with cosmic microwave background (CMB) constraints, provided by the Planck collaboration. We go beyond the slow-roll regime and investigate the impact in the description of CMB anisotropies by performing a statistical analysis of the model with the most recent Planck + Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) data to seek for any indication of a non-zero coupling by data within the model. We find that not only the presence of a non-minimal coupling is seen, but the model has a slight statistical preference when compared with the standard ΛCDM one. We also discuss the results on the minimally-coupled model, which in general, favours the simple setting where the associated mass scale is equal to the reduced Planck mass Mp while being, in general, disfavored concerning the standard model.

Cosmology in Minkowski space

Theoretical and observational challenges to standard cosmology such as the cosmological constant problem and tensions between cosmological model parameters inferred from different observations motivate the development and search of new physics. A less radical approach to venturing beyond the standard model is the simple mathematical reformulation of our theoretical frameworks underlying it. While leaving physical measurements unaffected, this can offer a reinterpretation and even solutions of these problems. In this spirit, metric transformations are performed here that cast our Universe into different geometries. Of particular interest thereby is the formulation of cosmology in Minkowski space. Rather than an expansion of space, spatial curvature, and small-scale inhomogeneities and anisotropies, this frame exhibits a variation of mass, length and time scales across spacetime. Alternatively, this may be interpreted as an evolution of fundamental constants. As applications of this reframed cosmological picture, the naturalness of the cosmological constant is reinspected and promising candidates of geometric origin are explored for dark matter, dark energy, inflation and baryogenesis. An immediate observation thereby is the apparent absence of the cosmological constant problem in the Minkowski frame. The formalism is also applied to identify new observable signatures of conformal inhomogeneities, which have been proposed as simultaneous solution of the observational tensions in the Hubble constant, the amplitude of matter fluctuations, and the gravitational lensing amplitude of cosmic microwave background anisotropies. These are found to enhance redshifts to distant galaxy clusters and introduce a mass bias with cluster masses inferred from gravitational lensing exceeding those inferred kinematically or dynamically.

Formula omitted] gravity with broken Weyl gauge symmetry, cosmological backreaction, and its effects on CMB anisotropy

We propose a new class of f(R) theory where its Weyl gauge symmetry is broken in the primordial era of the universe. This symmetry forces one to adopt a new scalar field, namely a Weyl field and a gauge vector boson. Furthermore, an equivalent form of the Einstein–Hilbert Lagrangian with a non-minimally coupled scalar field corresponding to the function f(R) is found. Due to the geometrical feature of the Weyl field, it turns out that the symmetry breaking induces a non-minimal coupling, which cannot be expected in the standard f(R) theories. We explain how this affects the evolution of the universe at cosmological scales. It is shown that there may be a value shift in the Planck constant and the cosmological constant. This can be regarded as a genuine exemplification of the cosmological backreaction. Furthermore, one also finds new features in the evolution of perturbational variables and cosmic microwave background anisotropy. Moreover, we prove that when a specific f(R) model invokes inflation, the amplitude of the primordial gravitational waves affects the evolution of scalar perturbation due to the new non-minimal coupling. As a case study, we explain how this can be embodied in the Starobinsky inflation. Finally, we discuss some impacts that this physics can bear and the possibility of giving a new restriction of the estimation of cosmological variables such as the gravitational wave amplitude with experiments.

Minihalos as probes of the inflationary spectrum:accurate boost factor calculation and new CMB constraints

Although the spectrum of primordial fluctuations has been accurately measured on scales above ∼ 0.1 Mpc, only upper limits exist on smaller scales. In this study, we investigate generic monochromatic enhancements to the ΛCDM spectrum that trigger the collapse of ultracompact minihalos (UCMHs) well before standard structure formation. We refine previous treatments by considering a mixed population of halos with different density profiles, that should realistically arise as a consequence of late-time accretion and mergers. Assuming that dark matter (DM) can self-annihilate, we find, as expected, that UCMHs can greatly enhance the annihilation rate around recombination, significantly imprinting the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies. However, we provide additional insight on the theoretical uncertainties that currently impact that boost and which may affect late-time probes such as the 21 cm line or γ-ray signals. We derive constraints on the primordial power spectrum on small scales using the ExoCLASS/HYREC codes and the Planck legacy data. We account for the velocity dependence of the DM annihilation cross-section (s- or p-wave), annihilation channel, the DM particle mass and the inclusion of late-time halo mergers. Our s-wave constraints are competitive with previous literature, excluding primordial amplitudes \U0001d49c*≳ 10-6.5 at wavenumbers k ∼ 104 - 107 Mpc-1. For the first time, we highlight that even p-wave processes have constraining power on the primordial spectrum for cross-sections still allowed by currently the strongest astrophysical constraints. Finally, we provide an up-to-date compilation of the most stringent limits on the primordial power spectrum across a wide range of scales.

The CMB cold spot under the lens: ruling out a supervoid interpretation

The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies are thought to be statistically isotropic and Gaussian. However, several anomalies are observed, including the CMB Cold Spot, an unexpected cold ∼ 10° region with p-value ≲ 0.01 in standard ΛCDM. One of the proposed origins of the Cold Spot is an unusually large void on the line of sight, that would generate a cold region through the combination of integrated Sachs-Wolfe and Rees-Sciama effects. In the past decade extensive searches were conducted in large scale structure surveys, both in optical and infrared, in the same area for z ≲ 1 and did find evidence of large voids, but of depth and size able to account for only a fraction of the anomaly. Here we analyze the lensing signal in the Planck CMB data and rule out the hypothesis that the Cold Spot could be due to a large void located anywhere between us and the surface of last scattering. In particular, computing the evidence ratio we find that a model with a large void is disfavored compared to ΛCDM, with odds 1 : 13 (1 : 20) for SMICA (NILC) maps, compared to the original odds 56 : 1 (21 : 1) using temperature data alone.

H0=69.8±1.3 km s−1 Mpc−1 , Ωm0=0.288±0.017 , and other constraints from lower-redshift, non-CMB, expansion-rate data

We use updated Type Ia Pantheon+ supernova, baryon acoustic oscillation, and Hubble parameter (now also accounting for correlations) data, as well as new reverberation-measured C IV quasar data, and quasar angular size, H II starburst galaxy, reverberation-measured Mg II quasar, and Amati-correlated gamma-ray burst data to constrain cosmological parameters. We show that these data sets result in mutually consistent constraints and jointly use them to constrain cosmological parameters in six different spatially-flat and non-flat cosmological models. Our analysis provides summary model-independent determinations of two key cosmological parameters: the Hubble constant, $H_0=69.8\pm1.3$ $\rm{km \ s^{-1} \ Mpc^{-1}}$, and the current non-relativistic matter density parameter, $\Omega_{m0}=0.288\pm0.017$. Our summary error bars are 2.4 and 2.3 times those obtained using the flat $\Lambda$CDM model and Planck TT,TE,EE+lowE+lensing cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data. Our $H_0$ value is very consistent with that from the local expansion rate based on the Tip of the Red Giant Branch data, is 2$\sigma$ lower than that from the local expansion rate based on Type Ia supernova and Cepheid data, and is 2$\sigma$ higher than that in the flat $\Lambda$CDM model based on Planck TT,TE,EE+lowE+lensing CMB data. Our data compilation shows at most mild evidence for non-flat spatial hypersurfaces, but more significant evidence for dark energy dynamics, 2$\sigma$ or larger in the spatially-flat dynamical dark energy models we study.

A framework to mitigate patchy reionization contamination on the primordial gravitational wave signal

ABSTRACT One of the major goals of future cosmic microwave background (CMB) B-mode polarization experiments is the detection of primordial gravitational waves through an unbiased measurement of the tensor-to-scalar ratio r. Robust detection of this signal will require mitigating all possible contamination to the B-mode polarization from astrophysical origins. One such extragalactic contamination arises from the patchiness in the electron density during the reionization epoch. Along with the signature on CMB polarization, the patchy reionization can source secondary anisotropies on the CMB temperature through the kinetic Sunyaev–Zeldovich (kSZ) effect. In order to study the impact of this foreground for the upcoming CMB missions, we present a self-consistent framework to compute the CMB anisotropies based on a physically motivated model of reionization. We show that the value of r can bias towards a higher value if the secondary contribution from reionization is neglected. However, combining small-scale kSZ signal, large-scale E-mode polarization, and B-mode polarization measurements, we can put constraints on the patchiness in electron density during reionization and can mitigate its impact on the value of r. CMB missions such as CMB-S4 and PICO may experience a bias of >0.17σ which can go as high as ∼0.73σ for extreme reionization models allowed by the Planck and SPT CMB measurements. As future experiments target to measure r at 5σ, this is likely to affect the measurement significance and hence possibly affect the claim of detection of r, if not mitigated properly by using joint estimations of different reionization observables.

CMB temperature trispectrum from accreting primordial black holes

It is known that primordial black holes (PBHs) can leave an imprint on cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy power spectra, due to their accretion-powered injection of energy into the recombining plasma. Here we study a qualitatively new CMB observable sourced by accreting PBHs: the temperature trispectrum or connected four-point function. This non-Gaussian signature is due to the strong spatial modulation of the PBH accretion luminosity, thus ionization perturbations, by large-scale supersonic relative velocities between PBHs and the accreted baryons. We first derive a factorizable quadratic transfer function for free-electron fraction inhomogeneities induced by accreting PBHs. We then compute the perturbation to the CMB temperature anisotropy due to a general modification of recombination and apply our results to accreting PBHs. We calculate a new contribution to the temperature power spectrum due to the spatial fluctuations of the ionization perturbation induced by accreting PBHs, going beyond past studies that only accounted for its homogeneous part. While these contributions are formally comparable, we find the new part to be subdominant due to the poor correlation of the perturbed temperature field with the standard CMB anisotropy. For the first time, we compute the temperature trispectrum due to accreting PBHs. This trispectrum is weakly correlated with the local-type primordial non-Gaussianity trispectrum; hence constraints on the latter do not lead to competitive bounds on accreting PBHs. We also forecast Planck's sensitivity to the temperature trispectrum sourced by accreting PBHs. Excitingly, we find it to be more sensitive to PBHs under $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{3}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ than current temperature-only power-spectrum constraints. This result motivates our future work extending this study to temperature and polarization trispectra induced by inhomogeneously accreting PBHs.

Probing Lorentz-violating electrodynamics with CMB polarization

We perform a comprehensive study of the signatures of Lorentz violation in electrodynamics on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies. In the framework of the minimal Standard Model Extension (SME), we consider effects generated by renormalizable operators, both CPT-odd and CPT-even. These operators are responsible for sourcing, respectively, cosmic birefringence and circular polarization. We propagate jointly the effects of all the relevant Lorentz-violating parameters to CMB observables and provide constraints with the most recent CMB datasets. We bound the CPT-even coefficient to kF,E+B < 2.31 × 10-31 at 95% CL. This improves previous CMB bounds by one order of magnitude. The limits we obtain on the CPT-odd coefficients, i.e. |k (3) (V)00| < 1.54 × 10-44 GeV and |kAF | < 0.74 × 10-44 GeV at 95% CL, are respectively one and two orders of magnitude stronger than previous CMB-based limits, superseding also bounds from non-CMB searches. This analysis provides the strongest constraints to date on CPT-violating coefficients in the minimal SME from CMB searches.