http://arxiv.org/abs/1709.10271
Giga-parsec scale alignments of the quasar optical polarization vectors have been proven to be robust against a scenario of contamination by the Galactic interstellar medium (ISM). This claim has been established by means of optical polarization measurements of the star light surrounding the lines of sight of the 355 quasars for which reliable optical polarization measurements are available. Taking advantage of the full-sky and high quality polarization data released by the $Planck$ satellite, we provide an independent, complementary and up-to-date estimation of the contamination level of the quasar optical polarization data by the diffuse Galactic thermal dust emission. Our analysis reveals contamination signatures of the quasar optical polarization data by Galactic dust for about twenty per cent of the sample. We provide new arguments showing that Galactic thermal dust cannot account for the reported quasar optical polarization alignments. We provide new and independent quality criteria to apply to the polarization sample for future inquiries in the framework of the cosmological-scale correlations of quasar polarization vector orientations that could compete with the isotropic principle of the cosmological paradigm.
V. Pelgrims
Mon, 2 Oct 17
29/47
Comments: 12 pages, 12 figures (appendix included); submitted to A&A on June the 2nd!
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