A maximum entropy method for reconstructing interferometer maps of fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation

Abstract

A maximum entropy method (MEM) is presented that simultaneously deconvolves interferometer maps of fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) and separates foreground contaminants from the CMBR component. We apply the method to simulated observations based on the realistic capabilities of the next generation of CMBR interferometers. We show that it is indeed possible to separate Galactic foreground and CMBR emission based on the spectral differences alone, without any assumptions about their respective power spectra. Moreover, the method still performs well even for unrealistically high levels of the Galactic emission. We also demonstrate that the power spectra of the individual components are successfully recovered, within the multipole range probed by the instrument. © 1997 RAS.