Astrophysics: New findings from V.G. Gurzadyan and co-authors

Science Letter
December 30, 2008

ASTROPHYSICS;
New findings from V.G. Gurzadyan and co-authors describe advances in
astrophysics

"We continue investigation of the hidden plane-mirror symmetry in the
distribution of excursion sets in cosmic microwave background (CMB)
temperature anisotropy maps, previously noticed in the three-year data
of the Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe (WMAP), using the WMAP 5
years maps," scientists in Yerevan, Armenia report (see also
Astrophysics).

"The symmetry is shown to have higher significance, chi(2) < 1.7, for
low multipoles l< 5, while disappearing at larger multipoles, chi(2) >
3.5 for l> 10. The study of the sum and difference maps of temperature
inhomogeneity regions, along with simulated maps, confirms its
existence," wrote V.G. Gurzadyan and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The properties of these mirroring
symmetries are compatible with those produced by the Sachs-Wolfe
effect in the presence of an anomalously large component of
horizon-size density perturbations, independent of one of the spatial
coordinates, and/or a slab-like spatial topology of the Universe."

Gurzadyan and colleagues published their study in Astronomy &
Astrophysics (Large scale plane-mirroring in the cosmic microwave
background WMAP5 maps. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2008;490(3):929-932).

For more information, contact V.G. Gurzadyan, Yerevan Physics
Institute, Yerevan 375036, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics
is: EDP Sciences S a, 17, Avenue du Hoggar, PA Courtaboeuf, BP 112,
F-91944 les Ulis Cedex a, France.