Optical performance of the BICEP2 Telescope at the South Pole

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

5

Scientific paper

Bicep2 deployed to the South Pole during the 2009-2010 austral summer, and is now mapping the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), searching for evidence of inflationary cosmology. Bicep2 belongs to a new class of telescopes including Keck (ground-based) and Spider (balloon-borne) that follow on Bicep's strategy of employing small, cold, on-axis refracting optics. This common design provides key advantages ideal for targeting the polarization signature from inflation, including: (i) A large field of view, allowing substantial light collecting power despite the small aperture, while still resolving the degree-scale polarization of the CMB; (ii) liquid helium-cooled optics and cold stop, allowing for low, stable instrument loading; (iii) the ability to rotate the entire telescope about the boresight; (iv) a baffled primary aperture, reducing sidelobe pickup; and (v) the ability to characterize the far field optical performance of the telescope using ground-based sources. We describe the last of these advantages in detail, including our efforts to measure the main beam shape, beammatch between orthogonally-polarized pairs, polarization efficiency and response angle, sidelobe pickup, and ghost imaging. We do so with ground-based polarized microwave sources mounted in the far field as well as with astronomical calibrators. Ultimately, Bicep2's sensitivity to CMB polarization from inflation will rely on precise calibration of these beam features.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Optical performance of the BICEP2 Telescope at the South Pole 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 Optical performance of the BICEP2 Telescope at the South Pole, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical performance of the BICEP2 Telescope at the South Pole will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1388490

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.