WMAP3 and the AoE

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Garth Antony Barber
Posts: 59
Joined: July 19 2005
Affiliation: Published independent

WMAP3 and the AoE

Post by Garth Antony Barber » March 27 2006

What is the status of the 'Axis of Evil' after WMAP3?

The statement in the Spergel et al. "Implications for Cosmology" paper:
If we were eager to claim evidence of strong non-Gaussianity, we could quote the probability of this occurring randomly as less than 2%. We, however, do not interpret the improvement of χ2 = 8 with 8 additional parameters as evidence against the hypothesis that the primordial fluctuations are Gaussian. Since the existence of non-Gaussian features in the CMB would require dramatic reinterpretation of our theories of primordial fluctuations, more compelling evidence is required.
gives the impression at first sight of almost being in a state of denial!

Seriously, the desire to lessen the chance of a false positive, the statement that the AoE exists when in fact it does not, leads inevitably to the greater chance of a false negative, the statement that the AoE does not exist when in fact it does.

How much "more compelling evidence" will be required?

Garth

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