Symmetries of CMB Temperature Correlation at Large Angular Separations

TL;DR

This study analyzes the large angular separation correlation function of CMB temperature maps from WMAP and Planck, showing that differences are due to masking choices and that the data supports a predicted symmetry from a holographic inflation model.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the apparent discrepancies in CMB correlation at large angles are caused by mask choices and confirms a symmetry predicted by a new holographic quantum inflation model.

Findings

WMAP and Planck data are consistent when masks are eliminated.

Measured correlations at 90° are consistent with zero within errors.

Results support the predicted symmetry from the holographic inflation model.

Abstract

A new analysis is presented of the angular correlation function $C(\Theta)$ of cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature at large angular separation, based on published maps derived from {\sl WMAP} and {\sl Planck} satellite data, using different models of astrophysical foregrounds. It is found that using a common analysis, the results from the two satellites are very similar. In particular, it is found that previously published differences between measured values of $C(\Theta)$ near $\Theta=90^\circ$ arise mainly from different choices of masks in regions of largest Galactic emissions, and that demonstrated measurement biases are reduced by eliminating masks altogether. Maps from both satellites are shown to agree with $C(90^\circ)=0$ to within estimated statistical and systematic errors, consistent with an exact symmetry predicted in a new holographic quantum model of inflation.