Classification of singular points in the polarization field of the cosmic microwave background and eigenvectors of the Stokes matrix

An analysis is made of the singularities of the polarization field of the c osmic microwave background, where the polarization is equal to zero. It is found that the classification of the singular points differs from the usual three types known in ordinary differential equations. The new statistical properties of the polarization field are discussed, and new methods to dete ct the presence of primordial tensor perturbations are indicated. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-3640(99)00106-1].