QUaD: A millimeter-wave polarimeter for observation of the cosmic microwave background radiation

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

2

Quad, Polarimeter, Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

Scientific paper

This thesis describes the design and performance of the QUaD experiment and presents some of its earliest results. QUaD is a millimeter-wavelength polarimeter designed for observing the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). QUaD was commissioned at the MAPO observatory at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in the Austral Summer of 2004/2005, achieved first light in Feb 2005, and began science observation in May.
QUaD observes the CMB with an array of 31 polarization-sensitive Neutron Transmutation Doped (NTD) germanium bolometers split between two frequency bands centered at 100 and 150 GHz. The telescope is a 2.6 m on-axis Cassegrain design with beam sizes of 6.3' and 4.2' at the two respective observing frequencies. The resolution and scan strategy are optimized to probe the CMB E- mode power spectrum over a multipole range of 100 to 2500. The performance of the system has been characterized with commissioning observations and a high signal-to-noise map of the CMB temperature anisotropy has been made over a ~50 square degree area.
CMB polarization anisotropies, only recently detected, promise a wealth of new cosmological information. Their observation complements the many successful temperature anisotropy measurements already performed, confirming our basic understanding of the early universe and leading to tighter constraints on cosmological parameters. Furthermore, polarization observations provide a probe of structure since the last scattering surface and promise unique constraints on inflation through the imprint of relict gravitational radiation.

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

QUaD: A millimeter-wave polarimeter for observation of the cosmic microwave background radiation 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 QUaD: A millimeter-wave polarimeter for observation of the cosmic microwave background radiation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and QUaD: A millimeter-wave polarimeter for observation of the cosmic microwave background radiation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1652645

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