Asymmetries in the angular distribution of the cosmic microwave background

Context. Intriguing features in the angular distribution of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), such as the north-south asymmetry, were reported in the one- and three-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data and should be studied in detail. We investigate some of these asymmetries in the CMB temperature angular distribution considering the Lambda CDM model in the three, five, and seven year WMAP data. Aims. We aim to analyze the four quadrants of the internal linear combination (ILC) CMB maps using three different Galactic cuts: the WMAP KQ85 mask, a vertical bar b vertical bar < 10 degrees. Galactic cut, and the WMAP KQ85 mask + vertical bar b vertical bar < 10 degrees. Galactic cut. Methods. We used the two-point angular correlation function (TPCF) in the WMAP maps for each of their quadrants. The same procedure was performed for 1000 Monte Carlo (MC) simulations that were produced using the WMAP team Lambda CDM best-fit power spectrum. In addition, we changed the quadrupole and octopole amplitudes obtained from the Lambda CDM model spectrum. We changed this to fit the quadrupole and octopole amplitudes to their observable values from the WMAP data. We repeated the analysis for the 1000 simulations of this modified Lambda CDM model, hereafter M Lambda CDM. Results. Our analysis showed asymmetries between the southeastern quadrant (SEQ) and the other quadrants (southwestern quadrant (SWQ), northeastern quadrant (NEQ) and northwestern quadrant (NWQ)). Over all WMAP ILC maps, the probability for the occurrence of the SEQ-NEQ, SEQ-SWQ and SEQ-NWQ asymmetries varies from 0.1% (SEQ-NEQ) to 8.5% (SEQ-SWQ) using the KQ85 mask and the KQ85 mask + vertical bar b vertical bar < 10 degrees. Galactic cut, respectively. We also calculated the probabilities for the M Lambda CDM using only the KQ85 mask and found no significant differences in the results. Moreover, the cold spot region located in the SEQ quadrant was covered with masks of 5, 10 and 15 degrees radius and again the results remained unchanged. Furthermore, this analysis was repeated for random regions in the SEQ quadrant with a 15-degree mask and the SEQ quadrant still remained asymmetric with respect to the other quadrants of the CMB map. Conclusions. We found an excess of power in the TPCF at scales >100 degrees in the SEQ with respect to the other quadrants that is independent of the Galactic cut used. Moreover, we tested a possible relation between the cold spot and the SEQ excess of power and found no evidence for it. Finally, we could not find any specific region within the SEQ that might be considered responsible for the quadrant asymmetry.