Rotation Field of the Cosmic Microwave Background — Model Rejection & Δℓ Persistence (v1.8)

Summary Version v1.8 tests whether simple spherical-harmonic models can explain the locked CMB rotation field α(n̂).Using the same α-map and mask as v1.5–v1.7 (no recomputation from Q/U, no calibration changes), we evaluate: • noise / zero model• dipole-only• quadrupole-only• dipole + traceless quadrupole (no harmonic term) For each model, we compute χ², AIC/BIC, and the residual Δℓ periodicity metric using masked pseudo-Cℓ and FFT analysis. RESULT — MODEL REJECTION All simple models are rejected. After subtracting noise, dipole, quadrupole, or dipole+quadrupole,a strong Δℓ ≈ 455 harmonic remains in the residuals (numerically measured by the periodicity metric). Therefore, the minimum-complexity explanation of α(n̂)must include the Δℓ harmonic term. The Δℓ structure is not an artifact of (mis)fitting dipole or quadrupole. WHAT IS LOCKED (READ-ONLY) • α(n̂) map: alpha_lowL_combined_v141.fits• Mask file (NSIDE=512, same file used in v1.5–v1.7; exact f_sky recorded in manifest)• No α reconstruction from Q/U maps; no new null simulations• No calibration changes NOTE ABOUT FITS PACKAGING (v1.8) To improve upload reliability on Zenodo, FITS maps are provided in separate ZIP archives.Each ZIP contains the FITS residual map plus its PNG quicklook image. Included files: • FITS_noise_zero_v18_*.zip• FITS_dipole_v18_*.zip• FITS_quadrupole_v18_*.zip• FITS_dipole_quadrupole_v18_*.zip The CORE archive (v1_8_MODEL_REJECTION_noFITS_*.zip) contains: • metrics (CSV, JSON)• residual spectra PNGs with Δℓ marker• periodicity tables (CSV, JSON)• SHA-256 manifests• README with packaging details No data was altered; only packaging changed. DELIVERABLES • Residual maps (FITS) and quicklook PNGs for each tested model• Residual spectra PNGs with Δℓ marker• Model metrics table (χ², AIC/BIC) — CSV + JSON• Periodicity tables — CSV + JSON• Metric-definition JSON (ℓ-range, detrending, FFT frequency bin)• SHA-256 manifests (hash tracking of every output)• Timestamped archives (CORE ZIP + FITS ZIPs) All outputs are versioned, timestamped, and hash-tracked. CONSERVATIVE CLAIM Simple spherical-harmonic models (noise, dipole, quadrupole, dipole+quadrupole)cannot explain the observed CMB rotation field α(n̂).The Δℓ harmonic persists in the residuals. PUBLICATION RECORD PREDECESSOR PUBLICATION (separate record)1. Sep 20, 2025 (v1.0) -- Harmonic Phase Alignments in Planck 2018 CMB -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17167268 MAIN RESEARCH SERIESConcept DOI:10.5281/zenodo.173173972. Oct 10, 2025 (v1.0) -- Scale-Dependent Anisotropic Birefringence: Initial Detection -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.173173983. Oct 20, 2025 (v1.1) -- Scale-Dependent Anisotropic Birefringence: Validation Dataset -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.173964284. Oct 21, 2025 (v1.2) -- Two-Harmonic Extension -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.174107645. Oct 28, 2025 (v1.3) -- Two-Harmonic Dipole Verification -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.174689886. Nov 1, 2025 (v1.4) -- MASTER-Calibrated Dipole -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.175007917. Nov 1, 2025 (v1.41) -- Extended MASTER Calibration and Robustness -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.175089088. Nov 7, 2025 (v1.42) -- Dependence-Aware Joint Validation -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.175538299. Nov 8, 2025 (v1.43) -- Phase Model Validation -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1756131310. Nov 8, 2025 (v1.44) -- Axis + Frequency + Half-Mission Validation -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1756176811. Nov 9, 2025 (v1.5) -- Multipole Structure and Model Selection -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1756296512. Nov 9, 2025 (v1.6) -- Phenomenology and Physical Interpretation -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1756619713. Nov 9, 2025 (v1.7) -- Prediction and Experiment Overlays -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1756687014. Nov 9, 2025 (v1.8) -- Model Rejection and Delta-l Persistence -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1756724115. Nov 10, 2025 (v2.0) -- Intrinsic Periodicity in l-space -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1757404816. Nov 10, 2025 (v2.1) -- Physical Origin of Delta-l Modulation -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1757708617. Nov 11, 2025 (v2.2) -- Universe-Model Evaluation -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1758541918. Nov 12, 2025 (v2.3) -- Domain Geometry and Topological Inference -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1759415719. Nov 13, 2025 (v2.4) -- Real-Space Correlation of Birefringence Field -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1759753720. Nov 13, 2025 (v2.5) -- Spectral Surgery on Delta-l ~109 Harmonic -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1760498221. Nov 14, 2025 (v2.6) -- Angular Locality of Delta-l = 109 Standing Wave -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1761334822. Nov 15, 2025 (v2.7) -- Sky-Local Origin of Delta-l ~109 Standing Wave -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1762002923. Nov 15, 2025 (v2.8) -- Domain Topology of Delta-l ~109 Standing Wave -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1762060524. Nov 16, 2025 (v2.9) -- Dual-Domain Coherence and Boundary Geometry -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1762187125. Nov 17, 2025 (v2.10) -- Boundary Sequence Structure on Dual-Domain Loop -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1763581126. Nov 19, 2025 (v2.11) -- Boundary Standing-Wave and Phase-Structure Analysis -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1764803327. Nov 21, 2025 (v2.12) -- Boundary Universality and Standing-Wave Fingerprints -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1767637728. Nov 23, 2025 (v2.13) -- Interior Propagation and Boundary-Driven Structure -- DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17693540 Contact email: [e-mail] 22 Blue - The Heartbeat of the Universe