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Searching for Primordial Gravitational Waves at Degree Scales from the South Pole

Citation

Brevik, Justus Albert (2012) Searching for Primordial Gravitational Waves at Degree Scales from the South Pole. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/E6Z2-CV94. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05302012-095444014

Abstract

We report on the preliminary performance of the Bicep2 mm-wave polarimeter, deployed in 2009 to the South Pole and will observe through 2012. Bicep2 is currently imaging the polarization of the cosmic microwave background at 150 GHz using an array of 512 antenna-coupled superconducting bolometers. It has been designed for high sensitivity and low systematics in order to pursue the primordial B-mode polarization signal. The instrument and its characterization are presented in this thesis, with particular attention to the detectors and readout system. The instrument sensitivity, mapping speed are discussed along with the expected constraint on the scalar-to-tensor ratio that should be made from one year of data.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:cosmic microwave background, polarization, polarimeter, B-mode polarization, antenna-coupled TES bolometers, SQUID multiplexer
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Major Option:Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Golwala, Sunil
Group:Astronomy Department
Thesis Committee:
  • Golwala, Sunil (chair)
  • Bock, James J.
  • Adhikari, Rana
  • Hirata, Christopher M.
Defense Date:25 May 2012
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:05302012-095444014
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05302012-095444014
DOI:10.7907/E6Z2-CV94
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Brevik, Justus Albert0000-0002-8058-5197
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:7094
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Justus Brevik
Deposited On:01 Mar 2013 19:09
Last Modified:26 Oct 2021 17:39

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