Diffuse microwave emission of the interstellar medium : intensity and polarization

TL;DR

This review discusses the properties of Galactic microwave emissions, both polarized and unpolarized, including free-free, synchrotron, thermal dust, and anomalous emissions, crucial for CMB foreground analysis.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the intensity and polarization characteristics of Galactic microwave emissions relevant for CMB studies.

Findings

Detailed descriptions of various Galactic emissions

Insights into polarization properties of microwave foregrounds

Implications for primordial gravitational wave detection

Abstract

With the increasing number of experiments dedicated to the observation of the Cosmic Microwave Background, interest on the detailed properties of the foreground Galactic emission has risen. In particular the focus is shifting towards polarized microwave emission with the goal of detecting signature from primordial gravitational waves and inflation. This review describes the Galactic polarized and unpolarized emissions in the microwave range : free-free, synchrotron, thermal dust and anomalous emission.