Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2001-10-05
PASP, 114, 83-97, 2002 January
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
14 pages. Accepted for publication in PASP. See also http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~tjp/CBI/
Scientific paper
10.1086/324786
Design and performance details are given for the Cosmic Background Imager (CBI), an interferometer array that is measuring the power spectrum of fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) for multipoles in the range 400 < l < 3500. The CBI is located at an altitude of 5000 m in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It is a planar synthesis array with 13 0.9-m diameter antennas on a 6-m diameter tracking platform. Each antenna has a cooled, low-noise receiver operating in the 26-36 GHz band. Signals are cross-correlated in an analog filterbank correlator with ten 1 GHz bands. This allows spectral index measurements which can be used to distinguish CMBR signals from diffuse galactic foregrounds. A 1.2 kHz 180-deg phase switching scheme is used to reject cross-talk and low-frequency pick-up in the signal processing system. The CBI has a 3-axis mount which allows the tracking platform to be rotated about the optical axis, providing improved (u,v) coverage and a powerful discriminant against false signals generated in the receiving electronics. Rotating the tracking platform also permits polarization measurements when some of the antennas are configured for the orthogonal polarization.
Carlstrom John E.
Cartwright John K.
Holzapfel William L.
Joy Marhshall
Keeney R. G.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Cosmic Background Imager does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Cosmic Background Imager, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Cosmic Background Imager will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-193394