The scalar perturbation spectral index n_s: WMAP sensitivity to unresolved point sources

TL;DR

This paper reevaluates the impact of unresolved point sources on the WMAP measurement of the scalar spectral index n_s, proposing alternative correction methods that slightly shift n_s closer to unity and highlight systematic uncertainties.

Contribution

It introduces a more sensible method for source correction, re-examines the source fit dependence on galactic cuts, and provides revised cosmological parameters with adjusted uncertainties.

Findings

n_s = 0.970 +/- 0.017, closer to unity than previous estimates

Source correction A = 0.012 +/- 0.005 muK^2 for uniform weighting

Identifies systematic uncertainties due to source fit and weighting schemes

Abstract

Precision measurement of the scalar perturbation spectral index, n_s, from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe temperature angular power spectrum requires the subtraction of unresolved point source power. Here we reconsider this issue. First, we note a peculiarity in the WMAP temperature likelihood's response to the source correction: Cosmological parameters do not respond to increased source errors. An alternative and more direct method for treating this error term acts more sensibly, and also shifts n_s by ~0.3 sigma closer to unity. Second, we re-examine the source fit used to correct the power spectrum. This fit depends strongly on the galactic cut and the weighting of the map, indicating that either the source population or masking procedure is not isotropic. Jackknife tests appear inconsistent, causing us to assign large uncertainties to account for possible systematics. Third, we note that the WMAP team's spectrum was computed with two different weighting schemes: uniform weights transition to inverse noise variance weights at l = 500. The fit depends on such weighting schemes, so different corrections apply to each multipole range. For the Kp2 mask used in cosmological analysis, we prefer source corrections A = 0.012 +/- 0.005 muK^2 for uniform weighting and A = 0.015 +/- 0.005 muK^2 for N_obs weighting. Correcting WMAP's spectrum correspondingly, we compute cosmological parameters with our alternative likelihood, finding n_s = 0.970 +/- 0.017 and sigma_8 = 0.778 +/- 0.045 . This n_s is only 1.8 sigma from unity, compared to the ~2.6 sigma WMAP 3-year result. Finally, an anomalous feature in the source spectrum at l<200 remains, most strongly associated with W-band.