Finite-width last-scattering damping

ID: finite-width-last-scattering-damping

A finite visibility width averages photon sources over emission time and radial position. For a Gaussian visibility profile, a plane-wave radial phase has the displayed damping factor; its power has the square of this amplitude factor. An acoustic source also varies with frequency , so its rapid oscillations are averaged. This averaging is distinct from Silk damping, which smooths the perturbations by photon diffusion before decoupling. Angular projection and source evolution prevent a universal isotropic damping coefficient based only on radial width.

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