On vector mode contribution to CMB temperature and polarization from local strings

Abstract

In a recent publication, we used the data from WMAP and SDSS to constrain the primordial perturbations and to predict the B-mode polarization sourced by cosmic string networks. We have been alerted by A. Slosar to the existence of errors in the code we used to calculate the Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropies from cosmic strings. Correcting the errors leads to a significant increase in the vector mode contribution to the CMB temperature and polarization anisotropies as well as an overall renormalization of the various string spectra. In these notes we explain the nature of the errors and discuss their implications for previously published constraints on cosmic strings based on this code. The chief change in our results is that our derived limit for the cosmic string tension is strengthened: Gμ< 1.8 (2.7) * 10^{-7} at 68 (95)% confidence. We also note that the newly-enhanced vector mode contribution produces a greatly-increased amplitude for B-mode polarization in the CMB which could exceed the B-mode power produced by the lensing of primordial E-mode polarization into B-mode polarization.

6 pages, 2 figures. Our code is available at http://physics.syr.edu/~lepogosi/cmbact.html

Cited by in corpus (19)

• Cosmic String Structure at the Gravitational Radiation Scale
• Anatomy of F_D-Term Hybrid Inflation
• Axion Inflation and Gravity Waves in String Theory
• Unveiling the Dynamics of the Universe
• Cosmic Strings as the Source of Small-Scale Microwave Background Anisotropy
• A Signature of Cosmic Strings Wakes in the CMB Polarization
• Constraints on standard and non-standard early Universe models from CMB B-mode polarization
• Magnetogenesis from Cosmic String Loops
• Cosmic String Loops and Gravitational Radiation
• A Note on Noncommutative Brane Inflation
• Probing Cosmic Strings with Satellite CMB measurements
• Periodic Gravitational Waves From Small Cosmic String Loops
• The bispectrum of matter perturbations from cosmic strings
• Clustering of Superstring Loops
• Probing inflation with CMB polarization : weak lensing effect on the covariance of CMB spectra
• Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropies generated by cosmic strings with small-scale structure
• Analytic Approaches to the Study of Small Scale Structure on Cosmic String Networks
• Inflation, Strings, CMB anisotropies and Leptogenesis
• GUT cosmic strings and inflation