New Constraints On Cosmic Polarization Rotation Including SPTpol B-mode Polarization Observations

TL;DR

This paper updates constraints on cosmic polarization rotation using recent SPTpol B-mode polarization data, tightening previous limits and providing new insights into CMB polarization properties.

Contribution

It introduces the first constraint on CPR fluctuation from SPTpol B-mode polarization data, improving previous limits by incorporating new measurements.

Findings

CPR fluctuation constraint improved to 17 mrad

Scalar to tensor ratio r measured as -0.05 ± 0.1

Provides tighter bounds on cosmic polarization rotation

Abstract

We present an update of the cosmic polarization rotation (CPR) constraint from the recent SPTpol measurements of sub-degree B-mode polarization in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) of 100 square degrees of sky. Our previous CPR fluctuation constraint from the joint ACTpol-BICEP2-POLARBEAR polarization data is 23.7 mrad (1.36{\deg}). With new SPTpol data included, the CPR fluctuation constraint is updated to 17 mrad (1{\deg}) with the scalar to tensor ratio r = - 0.05 +- 0.1