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Astrophysics > Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

arXiv:1606.05357 (astro-ph)
[Submitted on 16 Jun 2016 (v1), last revised 24 May 2017 (this version, v4)]

Title:Chirality and Circular Polarization in Models of Inflation

Authors:Stephon Alexander, Sam Cormack, Robert Sims
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Abstract:We investigate the possibility that a chiral asymmetry during inflation can manifest as net circular polarization in photons. Using an example known to produce a helicity imbalance in fermions, we show that superhorizon photon modes produced during inflation acquire net circular polarization. Modes that reenter the horizon around last scattering can thermalize into the Cosmic Microwave Background while retaining a portion of their net circular polarization. We also consider the possibility of direct detection of the circular polarization in the CMB.
Comments: 11 pages
Subjects: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO); General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc); High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph); High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
Cite as: arXiv:1606.05357 [astro-ph.CO]
  (or arXiv:1606.05357v4 [astro-ph.CO] for this version)
  https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1606.05357

Submission history

From: Robert Sims [view email]
[v1] Thu, 16 Jun 2016 20:05:08 UTC (34 KB)
[v2] Tue, 2 Aug 2016 20:07:50 UTC (34 KB)
[v3] Wed, 11 Jan 2017 18:26:56 UTC (13 KB)
[v4] Wed, 24 May 2017 01:02:50 UTC (13 KB)
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