A spatial-correlation analysis of the cubic 3-torus topology based on the Planck 2013 data

Abstract

Spatial correlations of the cubic 3-torus topology are analysed using the Planck 2013 data. The spatial-correlation method for detecting multiply connected spaces is based on the fact that positions on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) sky, that are separated by large angular distances, can be spatially much nearer according to a hypothesized topology. The comparison of the correlations computed with and without the assumed topology can reveal whether a promising topological candidate is found. The level of the expected correlations is estimated by CMB simulations of the cubic 3-torus topology and compared to those obtained from the Planck data. An interesting 3-torus configuration is discovered which possesses topological correlations of the magnitude found in the CMB simulations based on a toroidal universe. Although the spatial-correlation method has a high false-positive rate, it is striking that there exists an orientation of a cubic 3-torus cell, where correlations between points that are separated by large angular distances, mimic those of closely separated points.

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