DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17567241
title: Rotation Field of the Cosmic Microwave Background — Model Rejection & Δℓ Persistence (v1.8) Part of the "22 Blue — The Heartbeat of the Universe" research archive

description: Summary 

 

Version v1.8 tests whether simple spherical-harmonic models can explain the locked CMB rotation field α(n̂).Using the same α-map and mask as v1.5–v1.7 (no recomputation from Q/U, no calibration changes), we evaluate:

• noise / zero model• dipole-only• quadrupole-only• dipole + traceless quadrupole (no harmonic term)

For each model, we compute χ², AIC/BIC, and the residual Δℓ periodicity metric using masked pseudo-Cℓ and FFT analysis.

RESULT — MODEL REJECTION

All simple models are rejected.

After subtracting noise, dipole, quadrupole, or dipole+quadrupole,a strong Δℓ ≈ 455 harmonic remains in the residuals (numerically measured by the periodicity metric).

Therefore, the minimum-complexity explanation of α(n̂)must include the Δℓ harmonic term.

The Δℓ structure is not an artifact of (mis)fitting dipole or quadrupole.

WHAT IS LOCKED (READ-ONLY)

• α(n̂) map: alpha_lowL_combined_v141.fits• Mask file (NSIDE=512, same file used in v1.5–v1.7; exact f_sky recorded in manifest)• No α reconstruction from Q/U maps; no new null simulations• No calibration changes

NOTE ABOUT FITS PACKAGING (v1.8)

To improve upload reliability on Zenodo, FITS maps are provided in separate ZIP archives.Each ZIP contains the FITS residual map plus its PNG quicklook image.

Included files:

• FITS_noise_zero_v18_*.zip• FITS_dipole_v18_*.zip• FITS_quadrupole_v18_*.zip• FITS_dipole_quadrupole_v18_*.zip

The CORE archive (v1_8_MODEL_REJECTION_noFITS_*.zip) contains:

• metrics (CSV, JSON)• residual spectra PNGs with Δℓ marker• periodicity tables (CSV, JSON)• SHA-256 manifests• README with packaging details

No data was altered; only packaging changed.

DELIVERABLES

• Residual maps (FITS) and quicklook PNGs for each tested model• Residual spectra PNGs with Δℓ marker• Model metrics table (χ², AIC/BIC) — CSV + JSON• Periodicity tables — CSV + JSON• Metric-definition JSON (ℓ-range, detrending, FFT frequency bin)• SHA-256 manifests (hash tracking of every output)• Timestamped archives (CORE ZIP + FITS ZIPs)

All outputs are versioned, timestamped, and hash-tracked.

CONSERVATIVE CLAIM

Simple spherical-harmonic models (noise, dipole, quadrupole, dipole+quadrupole)cannot explain the observed CMB rotation field α(n̂).The Δℓ harmonic persists in the residuals.

 

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 resultMASTER 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• Phenomenology and physical interpretationDipole + quadrupole removed; no further organized multipole structureHarmonic periodicity imported into predictive α(ℓ)Rotation amplitude converted to deg / arcmin / arcsec / rad

v1.7 — Nov 9, 2025• Forward prediction and experiment overlaysConverts the validated α(n̂) structure into explicit, falsifiable predictionsfor LiteBIRD / Simons Observatory / CMB-S4

v1.8 — Nov 9, 2025 (this release)• Model rejection and Δℓ persistenceTests noise, dipole, quadrupole, and dipole+quadrupoleΔℓ harmonic remains in the residuals → harmonic required

22 Blue — The Heartbeat of the UniverseTwitter/X: @Project22Blue