The Topology and Size of the Universe from the Cosmic Microwave Background

Abstract

We study the possibility that the universe has compact topologies T^3, T^2 x R^1, or S^1 x R^2 using the seven-year WMAP data. The maximum likelihood 95% confidence intervals for the size L of the compact direction are 1.7 < L/L_0 < 2.1, 1.8 < L/L_0 < 2.0, 1.2 < L/L_0 < 2.1 for the three cases, respectively, where L_0=14.4 Gpc is the distance to the last scattering surface. An infinite universe is compatible with the data at 4.3 sigma. We find using a Bayesian analysis that the most probable universe has topology T^2 x R^1, with L/L_0=1.9.

Additional checks, Monte-Carlo skies, and study of dipole contamination added. References added. 13 pages, 11 figures

References in corpus (10)

• The Axis of Evil revisited
• Extending the WMAP Bound on the Size of the Universe
• Correlating anomalies of the microwave sky: The Good, the Evil and the Axis
• Do we Live in a "Small Universe"?
• A new analysis of Poincaré dodecahedral space model
• Constraints on the topology of the Universe derived from the 7-year WMAP data
• A test of the Poincare dodecahedral space topology hypothesis with the WMAP CMB data
• Cosmic microwave background multipole alignments in slab topologies
• Circles-in-the-sky searches and observable cosmic topology in a flat Universe
• Cosmic microwave anisotropies in an inhomogeneous compact flat universe

Cited by in corpus (19)

• Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation
• The Topology and Size of the Universe from CMB Temperature and Polarization Data
• Topology beyond the horizon: how far can it be probed?
• Replacing dark energy by silent virialisation
• On Topological Modifications of Newton's Law
• Deep redshift topological lensing: strategies for the T^3 candidate
• OPERA data and The Equivalence Postulate of Quantum Mechanics
• Energy Quantisation and Time Parameterisation
• Semiclassical Approach to Heterogeneous Vacuum Decay
• Limits on Semiclassical Fluctuations in the Primordial Universe
• Gravitational Interaction in the Chimney Lattice Universe
• Yukawa vs. Newton: gravitational forces in a cubic cosmological simulation box
• Hamilton--Jacobi meet Möbius
• Topological implications of inhomogeneity
• Particle creation in a toroidal universe
• The Möbius Symmetry of Quantum Mechanics
• Effect of the cubic torus topology on cosmological perturbations
• Gravitational potentials and forces in the Lattice Universe: a slab
• The Universe Originating from an Empty Planck-Size Torus