
With polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) now detected, and confirmed by several independent experiments, the next goal is to characterise accurately its statistical properties. In these lecture notes we review the physical motivation for pursuing CMB polarization, and the basic statistical properties of the polarization fields. We then discuss some of the key aspects of the analysis of CMB polarization data, focusing on the additional complications that arise compared to temperature data due to the tensor character of the polarization field.
Summer school lecture notes. To appear in `Data analysis in cosmology' (Springer LNP), Valencia, 6-10 September 2004
Astrophysics (astro-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics
Astrophysics (astro-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics
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