Is Planck Dust Modeling Consistent with BICEP2 Assumptions?

In summary, there has been a recent release of Planck dust modeling that appears to support the assumptions of BICEP2, but this is an unsupported assumption. Despite this, there has not been an immediate reaction from the BICEP2 team or other interested parties, which could be due to impatience or inconclusive results. The important factor for the BICEP2 result is to analyze the magnetic contents of dust lanes, specifically iron grains, which could potentially mimic the B Mode polarization of the CMB if aligned by galactic magnetic fields. The DL model developed by Li & Draine in 2001 has been successful in reproducing observed interstellar extinction, scattering, and IR emission and employs a mixture of amorphous
  • #1
Chronos
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Planck dust modeling has been released [re: http://arxiv.org/abs/1409.2495] . It appears to be consistent with the assumptions of BICEP2, but, that is an unsupported assumption. I expected an immediate reaction from the BICEP2 team, or other interested parties. Perhaps I am merely impatient, or the results are inconclusive.
 
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  • #2
Thank you Chronos for that link.

However, what is important for the BICEP2 result is to plot the magnetic contents of dust lanes - i.e. iron grains - that if aligned by galactic magnetic fields could emulate the B Mode polarisation of the CMB. Fingerprints of Galactic Loop I on the Cosmic Microwave Background

Following the DL model
Li & Draine (2001) developed a carbonaceous-silicate grain model that has been quite successful in reproducing observed interstellar extinction, scattering, and IR emission. DL presented an updated physical dust model, extensively used to model starlight absorption and IR emission. The DL dust model employs a mixture of amorphous silicate grains and carbonaceous grains.
the authors would not seem to be looking at the relevant type of dust crucial to verify or otherwise the BICEP2 result.

Garth
 
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  • #3
Earth's atmosphere polarizes light fairly strongly. I'm not sure if this is caused by dust and in particular, by magnetic materials in the dust.
 

FAQ: Is Planck Dust Modeling Consistent with BICEP2 Assumptions?

What is Planck dust modeling?

Planck dust modeling is a method used in astrophysics to account for the effects of interstellar dust on data collected by astronomical instruments. This dust can obscure the signals being measured and therefore needs to be taken into consideration in data analysis.

How does Planck dust modeling relate to BICEP2?

BICEP2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) is a telescope experiment that measures the polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation. Planck dust modeling is used to correct for the effects of interstellar dust on the data collected by BICEP2.

What is the significance of the BICEP2 results?

The BICEP2 experiment made headlines in 2014 when it claimed to have detected evidence of cosmic inflation, a theorized rapid expansion of the universe in its early stages. This would have been a major discovery in the field of cosmology, but the results were later found to be contaminated by interstellar dust and have since been retracted.

What challenges are associated with Planck dust modeling?

One of the main challenges of Planck dust modeling is accurately estimating the amount and distribution of interstellar dust in the line of sight of astronomical observations. This can be difficult as dust can vary in density and composition, making it challenging to predict its effects on data.

How does Planck dust modeling impact our understanding of the universe?

Planck dust modeling is an important tool for understanding the universe, as it allows us to correct for the effects of interstellar dust and obtain more accurate measurements of astronomical data. This can help us to better understand the properties and behavior of cosmic objects and phenomena, such as the cosmic microwave background radiation and the early stages of the universe.

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