DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17566197
title: Rotation Field of the Cosmic Microwave Background — Phenomenology & Physical Interpretation (v1.6)

description: Summary 

This dataset contains the rotation field α(n̂) of the CMB, derived from Planck 2018 polarization data. α(n̂) represents the rotation of the CMB’s linear polarization angle across the sky — a direct observable of cosmic birefringence.

Across all versions of this archive (v1.0–v1.6), the same underlying α-map is used:• No recomputation from Q/U maps• No recalibration• No new null simulations

The α(n̂) field is reconstructed using EB-only estimators (Minami & Komatsu 2020; MASTER calibration).

DATA DISCIPLINE (applies to all versions)• α-map and mask are locked (SHA-256 tracked)• All outputs are written into new timestamped folders (never overwritten)• JSON + CSV parameter files enable full reproducibility• Notebooks and manifests included in each archive

WHAT’S NEW IN v1.6 (THIS RELEASE)v1.6 adds interpretation to the structure identified in v1.5.• Subtracts best-fit ℓ = 1,2 (dipole + traceless quadrupole) from α(n̂) on the masked sky• Residuals show no additional organized multipole structure beyond those components• Imports the harmonic periodicity Δℓ from v1.5 into a predictive α(ℓ) band (v1.6 does not re-fit)• Converts rotation amplitude into physical units (rad → deg → arcmin → arcsec)

No recalibration. No new null simulations. No new α-map.

Deliverables archive includes:• Residual α(n̂) map after ℓ=1,2 subtraction (FITS + PNG)• Predictive α(ℓ) band (JSON + PNG)• Rotation amplitude table (JSON + CSV)• Manifest + README (all SHA-256 tracked)

 

VERSION HISTORY (22 Blue dataset series)Separate publication — Sep 20, 2025:  Evidence for Harmonic Phase Alignments in Planck 2018 CMB Polarization Data (Δℓ ≈ 320)

v1.0 — Oct 10, 2025:  First quantitative detection of scale-dependent, anisotropic cosmic birefringence (8.5σ isotropic + 4–5σ directional)

v1.1 — Oct 20, 2025:  Adds full statistical validation (TB/EB diagnostics, covariance)

v1.2 — Oct 21, 2025:  Two-harmonic extension (Δℓ ≈ 180 and 360)

v1.3 — Oct 28, 2025:  Completes robustness tests (calibration, simulation, injection/recovery)

Harvard Dataverse Mirror — Oct 29, 2025:  DOI: 10.7910/DVN/PTDG20

v1.4 — Nov 1, 2025:  MASTER-calibrated rotation field α(ℓ); low-ℓ transfer validated

v1.41 — Nov 1, 2025:  Extended calibration (SMICA/NILC, half-mission splits)

v1.42 — Nov 7, 2025:  Empirical joint significance (parity + harmonics)  165,000 null realizations; add-one p ≈ 6.06×10⁻⁶ (≈4.38σ)

v1.43 — Nov 8, 2025:  Calibration-invariant parity result  MASTER coupling reproduces parity to ≤ 0.26%; null exceedances 0/165,000

v1.44 — Nov 8, 2025:  Axis + frequency + half-mission validation using the same locked α(n̂)

v1.5 — Nov 9, 2025:  Multipole model selection using the same locked α(n̂)  Dipole-only rejected (ΔAIC ≈ +2.16×10⁵; Δℓ ≈ 454.7, CI: 433–455)

v1.6 — Nov 9, 2025 (this release):  Phenomenology and physical interpretation  Dipole + quadrupole removed; residuals show no further organized multipole structure  Harmonic periodicity imported into predictive α(ℓ)  Rotation amplitude converted to deg / arcmin / arcsec / rad

Part of the 22 Blue — The Heartbeat of the Universe research archiveTwitter/X: @Project22Blue