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
Sagiv Ilan
(2009)
The E and B EXperiment (EBEX); Progress and Status
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
Truch Matthew D. P.
(2009)
The Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope: BLAST
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
Gault Amanda C.
(2009)
The Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer (MBI)
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
Hinderks J
(2009)
QUaD: A HIGH-RESOLUTION COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND POLARIMETER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dicker Simon
(2009)
MUSTANG: 90 GHz Astronomy on a 100 Meter Telescope
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
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
Mason B. S.
(2009)
First Science Observations with MUSTANG on the GBT
in 2009 USNC/URSI Annual Meeting
Truch Matthew
(2009)
BLAST Large-scale Extragalactic Submillimeter Survey Reveals Half The Starlight In The Universe
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #214
Friedman R
(2009)
SMALL ANGULAR SCALE MEASUREMENTS OF THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE POWER SPECTRUM FROM QUaD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Thomas Nicholas Evan
(2009)
BLAST Observations of Nearby Galaxies
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #213
Chiang Cynthia
(2009)
Measurement of CMB Polarization Power Spectra from Two Years of BICEP Data
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #214
Pryke C
(2009)
SECOND AND THIRD SEASON QUaD COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE AND POLARIZATION POWER SPECTRA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Castro P
(2009)
COSMOLOGICAL PARAMETERS FROM THE QUAD CMB POLARIZATION EXPERIMENT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Brown M
(2009)
IMPROVED MEASUREMENTS OF THE TEMPERATURE AND POLARIZATION OF THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND FROM QUaD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gupta S
(2010)
PARAMETER ESTIMATION FROM IMPROVED MEASUREMENTS OF THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND FROM QUaD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mauskopf P. D.
(2010)
A TES Focal Plane for SPICA-SAFARI
in Twenty-First International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology
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
Bernard Jean-Philippe
(2010)
PILOT: measuring the FIR astrophysical dust emission
in 38th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Griffin Matt J.
(2010)
Narrow-band imaging by use of interferometers
in ISSI Scientific Reports Series
The Polarbear Collaboration
(2010)
The new generation CMB B-mode polarization experiment: POLARBEAR
Thomas Nicholas Evan
(2010)
BLAST-pol: Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope for Polarimetery
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #216
Eimer Joseph
(2010)
The Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER): Instrument Description.
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
Truch Matthew
(2010)
BLAST Large-scale Extragalactic Submillimeter Survey Results
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
Mason Brian S.
(2010)
Detection Of Shock-heated Gas Using The Sz Effect In Rxj1347-1145
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
Zemcov M
(2010)
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MILLIMETER-WAVE POLARIZATION OF CENTAURUS A WITH QUaD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Collaboration P
(2011)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue (Planck, 2011)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Hinderks J. R.
(2011)
Polarization Calibration of the QUaD Experiment
in Astronomical Polarimetry 2008: Science from Small to Large Telescopes
Lazear Justin
(2011)
PIPER: Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #218
Culverhouse T.
(2011)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: The QUaD Galactic Plane Survey. II. (Culverhouse+, 2011)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Valiante E.
(2011)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: BLAST observations of the SEP field (Valiante+, 2010)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Savini G.
(2011)
A Far Infrared Modulating Spectropolarimeter
in Astronomical Polarimetry 2008: Science from Small to Large Telescopes
Johnson Bradley
(2011)
Current Status of the PIPER Experiment
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #217
Keating B
(2011)
Ultra High Energy Cosmology with POLARBEAR
Devlin M. J.
(2011)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: BLAST sources at 250, 350 and 500um (Devlin+, 2009)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog (other)
Sheehy C
(2011)
The Keck Array: a pulse tube cooled CMB polarimeter
Kovács A
(2012)
SuperSpec: design concept and circuit simulations
Kovács A
(2012)
SuperSpec: design concept and circuit simulations
Shirokoff E
(2014)
Design and Performance of SuperSpec: An On-Chip, KID-Based, mm-Wavelength Spectrometer
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Hailey-Dunsheath S
(2014)
Optical Measurements of SuperSpec: A Millimeter-Wave On-Chip Spectrometer
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Valiante E
(2016)
The Herschel -ATLAS data release 1 - I. Maps, catalogues and number counts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Brien T
(2016)
Optical Response of Strained- and Unstrained-Silicon Cold-Electron Bolometers
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Hwang J
(2021)
The JCMT BISTRO Survey: The Distribution of Magnetic Field Strengths toward the OMC-1 Region
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lee Y
(2021)
The JCMT Transient Survey: Four-year Summary of Monitoring the Submillimeter Variability of Protostars
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
Pattle K
(2021)
Submillimetre observations of the two-component magnetic field in M82
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Könyves V
(2021)
The JCMT BISTRO-2 Survey: The Magnetic Field in the Center of the Rosette Molecular Cloud
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 |