Q/U Imaging Experiment (QUIET): a ground-based probe of cosmic microwave background polarization

Immanuel Buder

doi:10.1117/12.857882

15 July 2010 Q/U Imaging Experiment (QUIET): a ground-based probe of cosmic microwave background polarization

Immanuel Buder

Proceedings Volume 7741, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V; 77411D (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857882
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

QUIET is an experimental program to measure the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation from the ground. Previous CMB polarization data have been used to constrain the cosmological parameters that model the history of our universe. The exciting target for current and future experiments is detecting and measuring the faint polarization signals caused by gravity waves from the inflationary epoch which occurred < 10^-30 s after the Big Bang. QUIET has finished an observing season at 44 GHz (Q-Band); observing at 95 GHz (W-Band) is ongoing. The instrument incorporates several technologies and approaches novel to CMB experiments. We describe the observing strategy, optics design, detector technology, and data acquisition. These systems combine to produce a polarization sensitivity of 64 (57) μK for a 1 s exposure of the Phase I Q (W) Band array. We describe the QUIET Phase I instrument and explain how systematic errors are reduced and quantified.

Citation Download Citation

Immanuel Buder "Q/U Imaging Experiment (QUIET): a ground-based probe of cosmic microwave background polarization", Proc. SPIE 7741, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V, 77411D (15 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857882

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available