Searching for non-gaussian signals in the BOOMERANG 2003 CMB maps

We analyze the BOOMERANG 2003 (B03) 145 GHz temperature map to constrain the amplitude of a non-Gaussian, primordial contribution to CMB fluctuations. We perform a pixel-space analysis restricted to a portion of the map chosen in view of high-sensitivity, very low foreground contamination and tight control of systematic effects. We set up an estimator based on the three Minkowski functional which relies on high-quality simulated data, including non-Gaussian CMB maps. We find good agreement with the Gaussian hypothesis and derive the first limits based on BOOMERANG data for the nonlinear coupling parameter asat f NL as -300 < f NL < 650 at 68% CL and -800 <f NL < 1050 at 95% CL. © 2007. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.