Continuing Observations with DASI: CMB Anistropy Polarization and Fine Scale Structure

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This project will continue cosmological observations with the Degree Angular Scale Interferometer (DASI) at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station. The DASI instrument is currently providing measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation anisotropy over a range of scales that span the first three acoustic peaks in the CMB power spectrum. The shape of the power spectrum, in particular the spacing of the peaks, provides a potentially clean measure of the geometry of the universe. Other DASI studies include the measuring of currently undetected polarization of the CMB anisotropy. This information will provide a critical test of the early structure of the universe. Also, the receiver will be reconfigured for higher frequencies in order to measure the fine scale anisotropy and the tail of the CMB anisotropy power spectrum. Education and outreach efforts will proceed in parallel with DASI reconfiguration, testing, observing, and analysis; an undergraduate hands-on course on radio telescopes is being developed as part of this work, with a teachers workshop planned for the first year of this renewal. All reduced and calibrated data, fully described, will be publicly available within one year after the completion of the project.