In the 1990s COBE/FIRAS showed that the CMB spectral energy distribution is close to a perfect blackbody with tiny departures, ΔI/I ≃ 10−5, referred to as spectral distortions, that encode information about the full thermal history of the Universe. High-precision spectroscopy of the CMB is one of the three themes identified by the ESA Voyage 2050 programme to explore the early Universe. The BISOU (Balloon Interferometer for Spectral Observations of the primordial Universe) project is a pathfinder of a future space mission dedicated to the absolute measurement of the CMB spectrum. With the instrument and sky models developed in [6], we examine the influence feasibility of detecting the y-distortion monopole (probing the hot gas in the Universe).
The BISOU (Balloon Interferometer for Spectral Observations of the primordial Universe) project studies the viability and prospects of a balloon-borne spectrometer, pathfinder of a future space mission dedicated to the measurements of the CMB spectral distortions. A balloon concept based on a Fourier Transform Spectrometer, covering a spectral range from about 90 GHz to 2 THz, adapted from previous mission proposals such as PIXIE and FOSSIL, is being studied and modeled. Taking into account the requirements and conditions of balloon flights, we present here the instrument concept together with the results of a CNES Phase 0 study. We forecast a first detection of the CMB Compton y-distortion monopole with a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 5. We also present the future plan and work that will be the subject of a recently awarded two-year Phase A study.
Spectral distortions in the cosmic microwave background open a new window to the structure, content, and evolution of the universe. Detecting the expected signals at the few part-per-billion level requires background-limited sensitivity with careful control of instrumental signatures. PHOENIX is a Probe-class mission to map the CMB and diffuse astrophysical foregrounds at microwave through far-IR wavelengths. I describe the scientific goals and instrument design for the PHOENIX mission and use detailed time-ordered simulations to evaluate the projected instrument performance.
The BISOU (Balloon Interferometer for Spectral Observations of the Universe) project studies the viability and prospects of a balloon-borne spectrometer, pathfinder of a future space mission dedicated to the measurements of the CMB spectral distortions, while consolidating the instrumental concept and improving the readiness of some of its key sub-systems. A balloon concept based on a Fourier Transform Spectrometer, covering a spectral range from about 90 GHz to 2 THz, adapted from previous mission proposals such as PIXIE and FOSSIL, is being studied and modelled. Taking into account the requirements and conditions of balloon flights (i.e. residual atmosphere, observation strategy for instance), we present here the instrument concept together with the results of the CNES phase 0 study, evaluating the sensitivity to some of its potential observables. For instance, we forecast a detection of the CMB Compton y-distortion monopole with a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 5.
BISOU (Balloon Interferometer for Spectral Observations of the Universe) is a CNES phase zero study investigating the feasibility of observing spectral distortion in the CMB signal using a balloon-borne spectrometer, which also will act as a pathfinder for a future space mission dedicated to the measurements of the CMB spectral distortions. The CMB frequency spectrum is an important probe of the cosmological model. In this paper, we describe the optical layout and outline the initial optical analysis of the signal path and the reference beam path. The major challenge outlined is the inclusion of the required optical train in a confined volume of the cryostat. We include a multimoded description of the optical response of the system from the multimoded pyramidal horn through the optical path containing mirrors and wire grids and predict beam patterns on the sky.
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