Development of an Advanced Heterogeneous Array for Probing the High-Redshift Universe

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ABSTRACTAST-0096913This program is to build and use an interferometric array of six 3.5m diameter radio telescopes to image the Sunyaev Zel'dovich (SZ) effect in clusters of galaxies. The array will be used to provide a new view of cosmic structure formation at high redshifts by taking a complete, redshift-independent inventory of galaxy clusters. It will obtain independent estimates of the Hubble Constant H0, the deceleration parameter q0, and the cosmological matter density WM. These measurements will then lead to independent constraints on the total energy density of the universe and the contribution from a cosmological constant. The new array, after its initial survey of clusters, will be used in conjunction with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array of six 10m antennas, and perhaps eventually as part of CARMA (Combined Array for Millimeter Astronomy), to form a heterogeneous array with many advantages for high spatial dynamic range imaging of general astronomical phenomena. After the SZ measurements are completed the array will be made available to the US astronomical community. ***