The non-linear evolution of the cosmic microwave background: non-Gaussianity and spectral distortions

par Cyril Pitrou

jeudi 18 nov. 2010, 11:00 → 12:00 Europe/Paris

Auditorium M. Vivargent (LAPTH)

Non-Gaussian effects in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) can arise either from the primordial phase of the universe or from the subsequent non-linear evolution. I will focus on the latter point and review the perturbation theory beyond linear order. I will detail how the kinetic theory can be used in cosmology to derive the evolution of perturbations for polarized radiation. I will also discuss the concept of temperature when the collisions of electrons on photons is known to induce spectral distortions at the non-linear level. Finally I will present the numerical results with an analytical insight of the evolutionary signal and dicuss the contamination induced in the measurements of non-Gaussianity in the CMB.

Slides Pitrou