Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008phdt........13h&link_type=abstract
Proquest Dissertations And Theses 2008. Section 0262, Part 0606 143 pages; [Ph.D. dissertation].United States -- Wisconsin: The
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Cosmic Microwave Background, Experiment, Interferometry, Bolometer
Scientific paper
The Millimeter-wave Bolometeric Interferometer (MBI) is a novel instrument for measuring signals from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. MBI is a proof-of-concept designed to control systematic effects with the use of bolometers and interferometry. This scheme extends radio astronomy techniques of spatial interferometry, which rely on coherent receivers, to a system using incoherent detectors.
In this thesis we outline the principles upon which MBI works and provide the reader with an understanding of both the particulars involved in the design and operation of MBI as well as the analysis of the resulting data.
MBI observes the sky directly with 4 corrugated horn antennas in a band centered on l = 3 mm . A quasi-optical beam combiner forms interference fringes on an array of bolometers cooled to 300 mK. Phase modulation of the signals modulates the fringe patterns on the array and allows decoding of the visibilities formed by each pair of antennas. An altitude-azimuth mounting structure allows the horns to observe any point on the sky; rotation about the boresite extends the u - v coverage of the interferometer and allows for systematics checks and measurements of the Stokes parameters.
MBI was deployed at the Pine Bluff Observatory near UW - Madison in winter 2008 for its first test observations of astronomical and artificial sources. Interference fringes were seen from a microwave generator located in the far- field, verifying our basic model of bolometric interferometry. Further analysis is needed to measure the scattering matrix of the instrument and to compare it against simulations.
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