16724611
A Bayesian Estimate of the Skewness of the Cosmic Microwave Background
We propose a formalism for estimating the skewness and angular power spectrum of a general cosmic microwave background data set. We use the Edgeworth expansion to define a non-Gaussian likelihood function that takes into account the anisotropic nature of the noise and the incompleteness of the sky coverage. The formalism is then applied to estimate the skewness of the publicly available 4 yr COBE Differential Microwave Radiometer (DMR) data. We find that the data is consistent with a Gaussian skewness, and with isotropy. Inclusion of non-Gaussian degrees of freedom has essentially no effect on estimates of the power spectrum, if each Cl is regarded as a separate parameter or if the angular power spectrum is parametrized in terms of an amplitude (Q) and spectral index (n). Fixing the value of the angular power spectrum at its maximum-likelihood estimate, the best-fit skewness is S = 6.5 ± 6.0 × 104 μK3; marginalizing over Q, the estimate of the skewness is S = 6.5 ± 8.4 × 104 μK3, and marginalizing over n one has S = 6.5 ± 8.5 × 104 μK3.
122687802
Imaging the early universe with the BOOMERanG Experiment
The BOOMERanG experiment has recently detected temperature fluctuations the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), the otherwise isotropic radiation coming from the early Universe. These anisotropies have a low contrast (about 30 ppm) and feature a peculiar angular power spectrum at angles corresponding to sub-horizon scales at recombination. In the current cosmological model, these structures result from acoustic oscillations in the primeval plasma. In the framework of the Hot Big Bang theory with the inflationary hypothesis, the statistical properties of the image of the CMB allow us to measure most of the cosmological parameters.
36591368
Fast and precise map‐making for massively multi‐detector CMB experiments
Future cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarisation experiments aim to measure an unprecedentedly small signal - the primordial gravity wave component of the polarisation field B-mode. To achieve this, they will analyse huge dataset s, involving years worth of timeordered data (TOD) from massively multi-detector focal planes. This creates the need for fast and precise methods to complement the M-L approach in analysis pipelines. In this paper, we investigate fast map-making methods as applied to long duration, massively multi-detector, ground-based experiments, in the context of the search for B-modes. We focus on two alternative map-making approaches: destriping and TOD filtering , comparing their performance on simulated multi-detector polarisation data. We have written an optimised, parallel destriping code, the DEStriping CARTographer (DESCART), that is generalised for massive focal planes, including the potential effect of cross-correlate d TOD 1/f noise. We also determine the scaling of computing time for destriping as applied to a simulated full-season data-set for a realistic experiment. We find that destriping can out-perf orm filtering in estimating both the large-scale E and B-mode angular power spectra. In particular, filtering can produce significant spurious B-mode power via EB mixing. Whilst this can be removed, it contributes to the variance of B-mode bandpower estimates at scales near the primordial B-mode peak. For the experimental configuration we simulate, this has an effect o n the possible detection significance for primordial B-modes. Destriping is a viable alternative fast method to the full M-L approach that does not cause the problems associated with fil tering, and is flexible enough to
119285987
Cosmology of Axions and Moduli: A Dynamical Systems Approach
xed point attractors, repellers and saddle points, which we analyse in detail. We also provide geometric interpretations of the phase space. The xed points can be used to bound the couplings in the model. A systematic scan of certain regions of parameter space reveals that the future evolution of the universe in this model can be rich, containing multiple epochs of accelerated expansion.
11014726
Initial conditions of the universe: how much isocurvature is allowed?
We investigate the constraints imposed by current data on correlated mixtures of adiabatic and nonadiabatic primordial perturbations. We discover subtle flat directions in parameter space that tolerate large (approximately 60%) fractions of nonadiabatic fluctuations. In particular, larger values of the baryon density and a spectral tilt are allowed. The cancellations in the degenerate directions are explored and the role of priors is elucidated.
119408227
CMB likelihood functions for beginners and experts
Although the broad outlines of the appropriate pipeline for cosmological likelihood analysis with CMB data has been known for several years, only recently have we had to contend with the full, large-scale, computationally challenging problem involving both highly-correlated noise and extremely large datasets (N>1000). In this talk we concentrate on the beginning and end of this process. First, we discuss estimating the noise covariance from the data itself in a rigorous and unbiased way; this is essentially an iterated minimum-variance mapmaking approach. We also discuss the unbiased determination of cosmological parameters from estimates of the power spectrum or experimental bandpowers.
17957763
Mass-degenerate Higgs bosons at 125 GeV in the two-Higgs-doublet model
The analysis of the Higgs boson data by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations appears to exhibit an excess of h! events above the Standard Model (SM) expectations; whereas no signicant excess is observed in h! ZZ ! four lepton events, albeit with large statistical uncertainty due to the small data sample. These results (assuming they persist with further data) could be explained by a pair of nearly mass-degenerate scalars, one of which is a SM-like Higgs boson and the other is a scalar with suppressed couplings to W + W and ZZ. In the two Higgs doublet model, the observed and ZZ ! four lepton data can be reproduced by an approximately degenerate CPeven (h) and CP-odd (A) Higgs boson for values of sin( ) near unity and 0:7 < tan < 1. An enhanced signal can also arise in cases where mh’ mH, mH’ mA, or mh’ mH’ mA. Since the ZZ ! four lepton signal derives primarily from a SM-like Higgs boson whereas the signal receives contributions from two (or more) nearly mass-degenerate states, one would expect a slightly dierent invariant mass peak in the ZZ ! four lepton and channels. The phenomenological consequences of such models can be tested with additional Higgs data that will be collected at the LHC in the near future.
14262164
Mass for Plasma Photons from Gauge Symmetry Breaking
We derive the effective masses for photons in unmagnetized plasma waves using a quantum field theory with two vector fields (gauge fields). In order to properly define the quantum field degrees of freedom we re-derive the classical wave equations on light-front gauge. This is needed because the usual scalar potential of electromagnetism is, in quantum field theory, not a physical degree of freedom that renders negative energy eigenstates. We also consider a background local fluid metric that allows for a covariant treatment of the problem. The different masses for the longitudinal (plasmon) and transverse photons are in our framework due to the local fluid metric. We apply the mechanism of mass generation by gauge symmetry breaking recently proposed by the authors by giving a non-trivial vacuum-expectation-value to the second vector field (gauge field). The Debye length λ D is interpreted as an effective compactification length and we compute an explicit solution for the large gauge transformations that correspond to the specific mass eigenvalues derived here. Using an usual quantum field theory canonical quantization we obtain the usual results in the literature. Although none of these ingredients are new to physicist, as far as the authors are aware it is the first time that such constructions are applied to Plasma Physics. Also we give a physical interpretation (and realization) for the second vector field in terms of the plasma background in terms of known physical phenomena.
117960699
The CP-conserving 2HDM after the 8 TeV run
We confront the most common CP-conserving 2HDM with the LHC data analysed so far while taking into account all previously available experimental data. A special allowed corner of the parameter space is analysed - the so-called wrong-sign scenario where the Higgs coupling to down-type quarks changes sign relative to the Standard Model while the coupling to the massive vector bosons does not.
118670235
Evading death by vacuum
In the Standard Model, the Higgs potential allows only one minimum at tree level. But the open possibility that there might be two scalar doublets enriches the vacuum structure, allowing for the risk that we might now be in a metastable state, which we dub the panic vacuum. Current experiments at the LHC are probing the Higgs particle predicted as a result of the spontaneous symmetry breaking. Remarkably, in the two Higgs model with a softly broken U(1) symmetry, the LHC experiments already allow to exclude many panic vacuum solutions.
118483819
Probing the scalar-pseudoscalar mixing in the 125 GeV Higgs particle with current data
Centro de Fsica Teorica de Partculas (CFTP), Instituto Superior Tecnico,Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal(Dated: May 22, 2012)LHC has found hints for a Higgs particle of 125 GeV. We investigate the possibility that such aparticle is a mixture of scalar and pseudoscalar states. For de niteness, we concentrate on a twoHiggs doublet model with explicit CP violation and soft Z