MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    The millimeter-wave bolometric interferometer


    Korotkov, Andrei L. and Kim, Jaiseung and Tucker, Gregory S. and Gault, Amanda and Hyland, Peter and Malu, Siddharth and Timbie, Peter T. and Bunn, Emory F. and Bierman, Evan and Keating, Brian and Murphy, J.Anthony and O'Sullivan, Créidhe and Ade, P.A.R. and Calderon, Carolina and Piccirillo, Lucio (2006) The millimeter-wave bolometric interferometer. Proceedings of SPIE, 6275 (62750X). pp. 1-9. ISSN 0277-786X

    [img]
    Preview
    Download (1MB) | Preview


    Share your research

    Twitter Facebook LinkedIn GooglePlus Email more...



    Add this article to your Mendeley library


    Abstract

    The Millimeter-Wave Bolometric Interferometer (MBI) is designed for sensitive measurements of the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). MBI combines the differencing capabilities of an interferometer with the high sensitivity of bolometers at millimeter wavelengths. It views the sky directly through corrugated horn antennas with low sidelobes and nearly symmetric beam patterns to avoid spurious instrumental polarization from reflective optics. The design of the first version of the instrument with four 7-degree-FOV corrugated horns (MBI-4) is discussed. The MBI-4 optical band is defined by filters with a central frequency of 90 GHz. The set of baselines determined by the antenna separation makes the instrument sensitive to CMB polarization fluctuations over the multipole range l=150-270. In MBI- 4, the signals from antennas are combined with a Fizeau beam combiner and interference fringes are detected by an array of spider-web bolometers with NTD germanium thermistors. In order to separate the visibility signals from the total power detected by each bolometer, the phase of the signal from each antenna is modulated by a ferrite-based waveguide phase shifter. Observations are planned from the Pine Bluff Observatory outside Madison, WI.

    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: The definitive version of this article is available at doi:10.1117/12.672246 . This work is supported by NASA grant NAG5-12758, Rhode Island Space Grant, and Wisconsin Space Grant.
    Keywords: CMB polarization; interferometer; bolometer;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Experimental Physics
    Item ID: 5933
    Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672246
    Depositing User: Dr. Créidhe O'Sullivan
    Date Deposited: 04 Mar 2015 17:03
    Journal or Publication Title: Proceedings of SPIE
    Publisher: SPIE
    Refereed: Yes
    Funders: NASA
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Repository Staff Only(login required)

    View Item Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads