CMB polarization data plots, almost a vector field, then what?

[Spinnor]

The data points of the polarization of the CMB are a magnitude and an orientation that varies between 0° and 180°. What kind of mathematical field is that, not quite a vector field?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Chalnoth]

The data points of the polarization of the CMB are a magnitude and an orientation that varies between 0° and 180°. What kind of mathematical field is that, not quite a vector field?

Thanks for any help!

This is how polarization on the sky is often defined mathematically:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stokes_parameters

 

[bcrowell]

And what are the red and blue colors in the plots?

 

[Spinnor]

And what are the red and blue colors in the plots?

Temperature fluctuations?

 

[sardar]

The data points of the CMB polarization are a magnitude and an orientation that vary between 0° and 180°, which can be represented as a vector field. However, the data also includes information about the polarization direction, which is not typically included in a standard vector field. This type of mathematical field is known as a pseudovector field, as it behaves like a vector field in some aspects but not in others. Pseudovector fields are commonly encountered in physics and can be described using mathematical techniques such as differential forms. In the context of CMB polarization data, this type of field helps us better understand the underlying physical processes that give rise to the observed polarization patterns.