Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP
Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization (BICEP) is a bolometric polarimeter that has been optimized to target the B-mode of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization at degree angular scales, which is a sensitive probe of the energy scale of inflation. The instrument's...
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ftcaltechdiss:oai:thesis.library.caltech.edu:3938 2023-09-05T13:23:16+02:00 Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP Chiang, Hsin Cynthia 2009 application/pdf https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/3938/ https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/3938/1/hcc_thesis.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10052008-101916 en eng https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/3938/1/hcc_thesis.pdf Chiang, Hsin Cynthia (2009) Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/RA1D-V074. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10052008-101916 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10052008-101916> other Thesis NonPeerReviewed 2009 ftcaltechdiss https://doi.org/10.7907/RA1D-V074 2023-08-14T17:27:03Z Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization (BICEP) is a bolometric polarimeter that has been optimized to target the B-mode of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization at degree angular scales, which is a sensitive probe of the energy scale of inflation. The instrument's focal plane comprises 49 pairs of polarization-sensitive bolometers operating at 100 and 150 GHz, and the 25-cm aperture refractive optics provide degree-scale resolution over a 17 degree instantaneous field of view. The compact design enables sufficient control of instrumental polarization systematics to attain a projected final sensitivity corresponding to a tensor-to-scalar ratio of 0.1. This thesis describes the design, performance, and preliminary science results from BICEP, which has been observing the CMB from the South Pole since January 2006. After the first two seasons of operation, the EE, TE, and TT power spectra are measured with high precision at 30 < ell < 300, and BB is consistent with zero. BICEP has also observed the Galactic plane, and polarized emission is mapped with high signal-to-noise. Thesis South pole CaltechTHESIS (California Institute of Technology South Pole |
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CaltechTHESIS (California Institute of Technology |
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ftcaltechdiss |
language |
English |
description |
Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization (BICEP) is a bolometric polarimeter that has been optimized to target the B-mode of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization at degree angular scales, which is a sensitive probe of the energy scale of inflation. The instrument's focal plane comprises 49 pairs of polarization-sensitive bolometers operating at 100 and 150 GHz, and the 25-cm aperture refractive optics provide degree-scale resolution over a 17 degree instantaneous field of view. The compact design enables sufficient control of instrumental polarization systematics to attain a projected final sensitivity corresponding to a tensor-to-scalar ratio of 0.1. This thesis describes the design, performance, and preliminary science results from BICEP, which has been observing the CMB from the South Pole since January 2006. After the first two seasons of operation, the EE, TE, and TT power spectra are measured with high precision at 30 < ell < 300, and BB is consistent with zero. BICEP has also observed the Galactic plane, and polarized emission is mapped with high signal-to-noise. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Chiang, Hsin Cynthia |
spellingShingle |
Chiang, Hsin Cynthia Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP |
author_facet |
Chiang, Hsin Cynthia |
author_sort |
Chiang, Hsin Cynthia |
title |
Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP |
title_short |
Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP |
title_full |
Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP |
title_fullStr |
Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP |
title_full_unstemmed |
Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP |
title_sort |
observation of cosmic microwave background polarization with bicep |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/3938/ https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/3938/1/hcc_thesis.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10052008-101916 |
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South Pole |
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South Pole |
genre |
South pole |
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South pole |
op_relation |
https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/3938/1/hcc_thesis.pdf Chiang, Hsin Cynthia (2009) Observation of Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization with BICEP. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/RA1D-V074. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10052008-101916 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10052008-101916> |
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other |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7907/RA1D-V074 |
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1776203826755272704 |