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 (the big bang and inflation) and how structure has formed in the Universe. The interaction of CMB photons with galaxy clusters also allows us to identify and investigate further galaxies at redshifts not readily identifiable any other way. Such observations will be made and combined with surveys for individual galaxies, all at wavelengths in the range of a few mm to 100 microns. We also propose a unique instrument to exploit an atmosperic window at around 200 microns to obtain very much higher angular resolution observations at this wavelength, complementary to similar resolution observations at longer wavelengths. This instrument will address the major issue of how star-formation occurs in our own and similar galaxies. All these themes are very high priority in the PPARC roadmap. In this application we propose participation at a leading level in major international experiments investigating these problems, along with an underpinning technology development programme concentrating on optics, superconducting detectors and cryogen-free ultra-cold systems matched to the needs of future instruments. This programme will not only keep the UK at the forefront of current observational cosmology and astrophysics but enable us to maintain our technological edge so that we will remain at that forefront in future years.
Organisations
Publications
Hughes David
(2006)
An AzTEC 1.1mm Survey of a Highly-biased Extragalactic Field Tracing Accelerated Galaxy Formation at z 3.8 towards 4C41.17
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
Masi S
(2006)
Instrument, method, brightness, and polarization maps from the 2003 flight of BOOMERanG
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dobbs M
(2006)
APEX-SZ first light and instrument status
in New Astronomy Reviews
Jones W
(2006)
A Measurement of the Angular Power Spectrum of the CMB Temperature Anisotropy from the 2003 Flight of BOOMERANG
in The Astrophysical Journal
MacTavish C
(2006)
Cosmological Parameters from the 2003 Flight of BOOMERANG
in The Astrophysical Journal
Yoon K. W.
(2006)
Report on BICEP's First Season Observing the Cosmic Microwave Background from South Pole
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
Wilson Grant W.
(2006)
Submillimeter Galaxy Surveys with AzTEC
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #208
Yun Min Su
(2006)
AzTEC COSMOS Survey
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
Nguyen H
(2006)
Z-Spec's first light at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Korotkov A
(2006)
The millimeter-wave bolometric interferometer
Ade P
(2006)
A review of metal mesh filters
Wilson Grant
(2006)
Session Overview and AzTEC Instrument Performance
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
Savini G
(2006)
Achromatic half-wave plate for submillimeter instruments in cosmic microwave background astronomy: modeling and simulation.
in Applied optics
Glenn J.
(2007)
Z-Spec: A Dispersive Millimeter-Wave Spectrometer
in From Z-Machines to ALMA: (Sub)Millimeter Spectroscopy of Galaxies
Sayers Jack
(2007)
A Search for CMB Anisotropies on Arcminute Scales with Bolocam
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
Proty Wu Jiun-Huei
(2007)
Measurements of CMB Polarization with MAXIPOL
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #209
Chiang Cynthia
(2008)
Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #211
Chapin E
(2008)
The Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (BLAST) 2005: A 4 deg 2 Galactic Plane Survey in Vulpecula (l = 59°)
in The Astrophysical Journal
O'Brient R
(2008)
A Multi-Band Dual-Polarized Antenna-Coupled TES Bolometer
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
North C. E.
(2008)
Detecting the B-mode Polarisation of the CMB with Clover
in arXiv e-prints
Yates S. J. C.
(2008)
Antenna coupled Kinetic Inductance Detectors for space based sub-mm astronomy
in Ninteenth International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology
Korngut Phillip
(2008)
High Resolution Continuum Observations Of The Orion Nebula At 3.3mm With MUSTANG And The GBT
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #212
Masi S.
(2008)
OLIMPO
in Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana
Dicker Simon
(2008)
MUSTANG, a 90 GHz Continuum Receiver for the Green Bank Telescope
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #212
Brown M
(2009)
IMPROVED MEASUREMENTS OF THE TEMPERATURE AND POLARIZATION OF THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND FROM QUaD
in The Astrophysical Journal