XV. Limits on large-scale polarized anomalous microwave emission from Planck LFI and WMAP

We constrained the level of polarized anomalous microwave emission (AME) on large angular scales using Planck Low-Frequency Instrument (LFI) and WMAP polarization data within a Bayesian cosmic microwave background (CMB) analysis framework. We modeled synchrotron emission with a power-law spectral energy distribution, as well as the sum of AME and thermal dust emission through linear regression with the Planck High-Frequency Instrument (HFI) 353 GHz data. This template-based dust emission model allowed us to constrain the level of polarized AME while making minimal assumptions on its frequency dependence. We neglected CMB fluctuations, but show through simulations that these fluctuations have a minor impact on the results. We find that the resulting AME polarization fraction confidence limit is sensitive to the polarized synchrotron spectral index prior. In addition, for prior means beta(s) < -3:1 we find an upper limit of p(max) (AME) less than or similar to 0.6% (95% confidence). In contrast, for means beta(s) = <-3.0, we find a nominal detection of p(AME) = 2.5 +/- 1.0% (95% confidence). These data are thus not strong enough to simultaneously and robustly constrain both polarized synchrotron emission and AME, and our main result is therefore a constraint on the AME polarization fraction explicitly as a function of fis. Combining the current Planck and WMAP observations with measurements from high-sensitivity low-frequency experiments such as C-BASS and QUIJOTE will be critical to improve these limits further.

Automated summary

We used Planck LFI and WMAP polarization data to constrain the polarized anomalous microwave emission (AME) on large angular scales. By modeling synchrotron emission and the sum of AME and thermal dust emission, we were able to minimize assumptions on the frequency dependence of AME using a template-based dust emission model. Our results showed that the level of polarized AME is sensitive to the prior synchrotron spectral index. Combining Planck, WMAP, and other low-frequency experimental data will be crucial in improving these limits further.