Cosmological Research with the 10 meter South Pole Telescope

这是一个研究活动的项目，主要是利用新的10米南极望远镜（SPT）来探测暗能量和暴胀的本质。望远镜和最初的探测器阵列是在先前的合同下建造的，科学观测将在2007年的南方冬季开始。本研究包括为SPT的运行、数据的存储和精简以及科学分析提供支持。最初的项目是一个4000平方度的调查，使用Sunyaev-Zel'dovich效应（SZE）来探测所有质量超过特定极限值的星系团，与它们的红移无关。将这些结果与光学红移结合起来，将对暗能量的状态方程施加严格的限制。SPT观测还将测量精细尺度的温度各向异性，这可以确定是否存在偏离精确尺度不变性的情况，正如当前“标准”暴胀宇宙学所预测的那样。更长期的项目包括为SPT开发一个新的1000像素、双偏振、多波段偏振计，以测量宇宙微波背景（CMB）在弧分到几度尺度上的极化各向异性。测量所谓的b模偏振的角功率谱，以及宇宙最初瞬间产生的暴胀引力波在CMB上留下的大角尺度模式，利用SPT独特而强大的能力，研究宇宙学和天体物理学的前沿。这些关键问题，以及对研究计划的建议，已经成为几个国家报告的焦点，包括2000年NRC天文学和天体物理学十年报告，NRC报告将夸克与宇宙联系起来，OSTP机构间报告宇宙物理学，以及CMB研究特别小组和暗能量特别小组的报告。SPT研究项目的科学是宇宙学的核心，旨在回答一些最引人注目的问题，并将对整个宇宙学和物理学产生重大而广泛的影响。更广泛地说，该项目通过将研究生和本科教育与技术和仪器开发、天文观测和科学分析相结合，有助于培养下一代科学家。SPT的调查也将产生大型的、公开可用的数据集。与非科学家分享前沿研究已经超越了大学的范畴，扩展到了基于利用网络上日益流行的视频和音频内容的既有项目和新项目。国际极地年的庆祝活动也为提高公众对极地科学的认识提供了一个特殊机会。

OPP-0638937CarlstromThis is a program of research activities broadly directed toward using the new ten-meter South Pole Telescope (SPT) to probe the nature of dark energy and inflation. The telescope and the initial detector array were constructed under a prior award, and science observations are starting during the austral winter 2007. This study includes support for operation of the SPT, storage and reduction of the data, and science analysis. The initial project is a four-thousand square degree survey, using the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect (SZE) to detect all galaxy clusters more massive than a specific limiting value, independent of their redshift. Combining these results with optical redshifts, both currently available and yet to be observed, will place tight constraints on the equation of state of the dark energy. SPT observations will also measure fine-scale temperature anisotropies, which can determine whether a departure from exact scale invariance exists, as is predicted by the current 'standard' inflationary cosmology.Longer-term projects include developing a new one-thousand-pixel, dual-polarization, multi-band polarimeter for the SPT, to measure the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization anisotropy over scales of an arc-minute to several degrees. Measuring the angular power spectrum of the so-called B-mode polarization, as well as the large angular scale modes imprinted on the CMB by inflationary gravitational waves generated in the first instants of the Universe, exploits the unique and powerful capabilities of the SPT for research at the cutting edge of cosmology and astrophysics. The critical questions, and recommendations for research programs to help answer them, have been the focus of several national reports, including the 2000 NRC Decadal Report on Astronomy and Astrophysics, the NRC report Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos, the OSTP inter-agency report Physics of the Universe, and the reports of the Task Force on CMB Research and the Dark Energy Task Force. The science of the SPT research projects is at the heart of cosmology, is directed at answering some of these most compelling questions, and will have significant broader impacts throughout cosmology and physics.More broadly, the project contributes to the training of the next generation of scientists by integrating graduate and undergraduate education with technology and instrumentation development, astronomical observations, and scientific analysis. The SPT surveys will also lead to large, publicly available datasets. The sharing of forefront research with non-scientists extends beyond the university to both established and new programs based on exploiting the growing popularity of video and audio content on the web. The International Polar Year celebration also offers a special opportunity to contribute to public awareness of polar science.