Cosmic Background Isotropy Measurements from the South Pole

该项目将尝试测量来自南极站的宇宙微波背景辐射（CMBR）的各向同性。测量将由两种不同的仪器在不同的角度尺寸尺度和频率下工作，并使用不同的检测技术。其中一种仪器将使用辐射热计探测器在90千兆赫的频率上以20分钟的角度尺度进行测量。另一种仪器将使用红宝石微波激射探测器在19千兆赫的频率下测量4度的角尺度。这些仪器具有灵敏度，可以为CMBR的各向异性设定新的上限，如果他们这样做，就有必要重新制定当前的宇宙学理论。探测到各向异性将是对当前理论的重要证实。这可能是我们所能做的最重要的宇宙学测量，而南极是地球上进行测量的最佳地点。该机构和提案人都非常有资格进行实验。提案人利用专门为此目的颁发的总统青年研究员补助金的资金开发了这些仪器。

This project will attempt to measure the isotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) from South Pole Station. The measurements will be made by two different instruments working at different angular size scales and frequencies and using different detection techniques. One of the instruments will make measurements on an angular scale of 20 minutes at a frequency of 90 GHz using a bolometer detector. The other instrument will measure angular scales of 4 degrees at a frequency of 19 GHz using a ruby maser detector. The instruments have the sensitivity to set new upper limits on the anisotropy of the CMBR, and if they do so it will be necessary to reformulate the current cosmological theories. A detection of anisotropy would be an important confirmation of the current theories. This is probably the most important cosmological measurement that can be made, and the South Pole is the best place on earth to make it. The institution and the proposer are outstandingly qualified to perform the experiment. The proposer has developed the instruments with funding from a Presidential Young Investigator grant especially awarded for that purpose.