Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T03:18:57.349Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

5 - CMB Polarization and the Total Angular Momentum Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2020

Ruth Durrer
Affiliation:
Université de Genève
Get access

Summary

We derive the perturbed Boltzmann equation for CMB photons. After a brief introduction to relativistic kinetic theory, we first derive the Liouville equation, i.e. the Boltzmann equation without collision term. We also discuss the connection between the distribution function and the energy{momentum tensor. We then derive the collision term, i.e. the right-hand side of the Boltzmann equation, due to Thomson scattering of photons and electrons. In this first attempt we neglect the polarization dependence of Thomson scattering. This treatment however includes the finite thickness of the last scattering surface and Silk damping. The chapter ends with a list of the full system of perturbation equations for a ΛCDM universe, including massless neutrinos.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×