A Programme of Research in Astronomical Instrumentation and Cosmology
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is the earliest electromagnetic signal we can receive from the Universe, and investigation of its properties allows us to test theories of how the Universe began and how structure was formed that has eventually led to the galaxies and clusters that we see around us today. We propose to determine the polarization properties of the CMB in order to test theories of the very early period known as inflation by looking for the characteristic signal caused by gravitational waves created at that time, and also to conduct surveys of the galaxy to check on foregrounds and test theories of the structure of regions where stars form. In order to maintain a UK lead in this strategically high priority area of science we also propose a programme of underpinning research and development into specialised optical components at wavelengths from a few microns to a few millimetres using the principles of what are known as meta-materials, and also a programme to develop very large numbers of extremely sensitive superconducting detectors in order to improve measurements of the incredibly weak signals from the CMB and galaxies at these wavelengths. We also propose to investigate the method of interferometry to improve angular resolution at far infrared wavelengths for future space missions. We will engage in an active programme of outreach to educate the public and especially school children in the exciting science that we do and hopefully encourage more to take up careers in science as a result. We will also conduct a knowledge exchange programme looking to apply the technology developed for astronomy to other purposes with wider impact, such as medical imaging for example.
Organisations
Publications
Moncelsi L
(2011)
A PANCHROMATIC STUDY OF BLAST COUNTERPARTS: TOTAL STAR FORMATION RATE, MORPHOLOGY, ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS FRACTION, AND STELLAR MASS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Monfardini A
(2011)
A DUAL-BAND MILLIMETER-WAVE KINETIC INDUCTANCE CAMERA FOR THE IRAM 30 m TELESCOPE
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Natoli P
(2010)
BOOMERanG constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity from analytical Minkowski functionals BOOMERanG constraints on non-Gaussianity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nord M
(2009)
Multi-frequency imaging of the galaxy cluster Abell 2163 using the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pascale E
(2009)
BLAST: A FAR-INFRARED MEASUREMENT OF THE HISTORY OF STAR FORMATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pattle K
(2021)
Submillimetre observations of the two-component magnetic field in M82
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pryke C
(2009)
SECOND AND THIRD SEASON QUaD COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE AND POLARIZATION POWER SPECTRA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Reichardt C
(2009)
HIGH-RESOLUTION CMB POWER SPECTRUM FROM THE COMPLETE ACBAR DATA SET
in The Astrophysical Journal
Reichborn-Kjennerud B
(2010)
EBEX: a balloon-borne CMB polarization experiment
Roy A
(2011)
DECONVOLUTION OF IMAGES FROM BLAST 2005: INSIGHT INTO THE K3-50 AND IC 5146 STAR-FORMING REGIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rumble D
(2021)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: radiative heating by OB stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Runyan M
(2010)
Design and performance of the SPIDER instrument
Sagiv Ilan
(2009)
The E and B EXperiment (EBEX); Progress and Status
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
Savini G.
(2011)
A Far Infrared Modulating Spectropolarimeter
in Astronomical Polarimetry 2008: Science from Small to Large Telescopes
Sayers J
(2010)
STUDIES OF MILLIMETER-WAVE ATMOSPHERIC NOISE ABOVE MAUNA KEA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sheehy C
(2010)
The Keck Array: a pulse tube cooled CMB polarimeter
Sheehy C. D.
(2011)
The Keck Array: a pulse tube cooled CMB polarimeter
in arXiv e-prints
Shirokoff E
(2014)
Design and Performance of SuperSpec: An On-Chip, KID-Based, mm-Wavelength Spectrometer
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Spencer L
(2011)
Beam-splitter effects in dual-input Fourier transform spectroscopy
in Journal of the Optical Society of America A
Staniszewski Z
(2009)
GALAXY CLUSTERS DISCOVERED WITH A SUNYAEV-ZEL'DOVICH EFFECT SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Takahashi Y
(2010)
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BICEP TELESCOPE FOR HIGH-PRECISION COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND POLARIMETRY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Thomas Nicholas Evan
(2010)
BLAST-pol: Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope for Polarimetery
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #216
Thomas Nicholas Evan
(2009)
BLAST Observations of Nearby Galaxies
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
Tinetti G
(2011)
The science of EChO
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Truch M
(2009)
THE BALLOON-BORNE LARGE APERTURE SUBMILLIMETER TELESCOPE (BLAST) 2006: CALIBRATION AND FLIGHT PERFORMANCE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Truch Matthew
(2009)
BLAST Large-scale Extragalactic Submillimeter Survey Reveals Half The Starlight In The Universe
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #214
Truch Matthew
(2010)
BLAST Large-scale Extragalactic Submillimeter Survey Results
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
Truch Matthew D. P.
(2009)
The Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope: BLAST
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
Valiante E
(2016)
The Herschel -ATLAS data release 1 - I. Maps, catalogues and number counts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Valiante E.
(2011)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: BLAST observations of the SEP field (Valiante+, 2010)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Vanderlinde K
(2010)
GALAXY CLUSTERS SELECTED WITH THE SUNYAEV-ZEL'DOVICH EFFECT FROM 2008 SOUTH POLE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Viero M
(2009)
BLAST: CORRELATIONS IN THE COSMIC FAR-INFRARED BACKGROUND AT 250, 350, AND 500 µm REVEAL CLUSTERING OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Viero Marco
(2010)
BLAST: Correlations in the Cosmic Submillimeter Background Reveal Clustering at 250, 350 and 500 µ. Implications for observations with Herschel and Planck.
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
Westbrook B
(2009)
Further Optimization of the APEX-SZ TES Bolometer Array
Wu EY
(2009)
Parity violation constraints using cosmic microwave background polarization spectra from 2006 and 2007 observations by the QUaD polarimeter.
in Physical review letters
Zemcov M
(2010)
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MILLIMETER-WAVE POLARIZATION OF CENTAURUS A WITH QUaD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Description | results from the Herschel satellite programmes have been published particualrly the large deep atlaS survey has found several hundreds of thousands of high-z galaxies inclusing hundreds of lenses objects. The HELGA study of Andromeda our nearest neighbour large galaxy has shown its molecular cloud properties to be similar to the milky way. A new class of nearby dusrty and yet blue galaxies has been discovered State-of-the-art THz optical components were developed, utilising metamaterials with properties not found in natural materials. State of the art superconducting detector technologies were developed. |
Exploitation Route | The THz optical components and supercondcting detectors continue to be in demand for use in astronomical experiments all over the world. They both also have otehr applications including laboratory spectroscopy, fusion plasma diagnostocs and security imaging. a new spiin out company has been formed to develop the superconducting technology for security imaging. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Security and Diplomacy |
Description | The THz optical components are utilised extensively in commercial applications via the embedded spin out company QMCI. A new spintout company developing commercial security scanning applications is also close to incorporation. This is of interest to UK Border agency for scannign lorries for illegal migrants. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Security and Diplomacy |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |