The Simons Observatory: a new open-source power spectrum pipeline applied to the Planck legacy data

TL;DR

This paper introduces an open-source pipeline for reproducing Planck 2018 power spectra and covariance matrices, enabling independent validation and future analysis of CMB data with adaptable features.

Contribution

The paper presents a new publicly available pipeline that accurately reproduces Planck 2018 spectra and covariances, facilitating independent validation and future data analysis.

Findings

Reproduced Planck spectra to 0.1σ precision

Covariance matrices reproduced to 10% accuracy

Cosmological parameters agree within 0.1σ with original results

Abstract

We present a reproduction of the Planck 2018 angular power spectra at $\ell > 30$, and associated covariance matrices, for intensity and polarization maps at 100, 143 and 217 GHz. This uses a new, publicly available, pipeline that is part of the PSpipe package. As a test case we use the same input maps, ancillary products, and analysis choices as in the Planck 2018 analysis, and find that we can reproduce the spectra to 0.1$\sigma$ precision, and the covariance matrices to 10%. We show that cosmological parameters estimated from our re-derived products agree with the public Planck products to 0.1$\sigma$, providing an independent cross-check of the Planck team's analysis. Going forward, the publicly-available code can be easily adapted to use alternative input maps, data selections and analysis choices, for future optimal analysis of Planck data with new ground-based Cosmic Microwave Background data.