Polarization of Microwave Background: Statistical and Physical Properties

TL;DR

This paper explores the statistical and physical characteristics of cosmic microwave background polarization, providing insights into geometric signatures and methods for constructing polarization maps.

Contribution

It introduces new expressions linking polarization types to Stokes parameters and discusses local construction methods for polarization maps.

Findings

Presented simulated polarization maps for typical models

Derived expressions relating polarization to Stokes parameters

Analyzed geometric signatures in polarization data

Abstract

We discuss statistical and physical properties of cosmic microwave background polarization, both in Fourier and in real space. The latter allows for a more intuitive understanding of some of the geometric signatures. We present expressions that relate electric and magnetic type of polarization to the measured Stokes parameters in real space and discuss how can be constructed locally. We discuss necessary conditions to create polarization and present simulated maps and correlation functions for some typical models.