Hints of tensions in the cosmic microwave background temperature and polarization quadrupoles

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2311.06196
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Authors: Jahmour J. Givans; Marc Kamionkowski
• Keywords: Sigma; Cosmic background radiation; Cosmic variance; Observational cosmology

The large-angular-scale falloff in the autocorrelation function for cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature has long intrigued cosmologists and fueled speculation about suppressed superhorizon power. Here we highlight an inconsistency between quadrupole more recently obtained E-mode polarization from Planck PR3. arises primarily at CMB surface of last scatter, while epoch reionization, but two still probe comparable distance scales. Although is intriguingly low (much greater than a $1\sigma$ fluctuation) compared with that expected standard $\Lambda$CDM cosmological model, turns out to be somewhat high, level. We calculate joint probability distribution both find slight tension: observed pair quadrupoles inconsistent $2.3\sigma$ confidence problem robust simple changes model. If high survives further scrutiny, then this result disfavors, significance, new physics. full-sky coverage pristine foreground subtraction LiteBIRD satellite will ideal help resolve question.