CAREER: Large focal plane array development for CMB polarization studies with the South Pole Telescope

该提案将资助开发探测器阵列和分析软件，用于一种新的科学仪器，该仪器将用于NSF资助的南极望远镜。本科生，研究生和博士后研究员将在这个研究和仪器项目的不同方面工作。用这台仪器观测宇宙微波背景，有望为暴胀物理学提供新的见解，并将帮助我们了解宇宙的再电离历史。该奖项的另一个组成部分将为上述仪器开发数据分析管道。这种管道是现代天文仪器的关键组成部分，因为它可以用来测试科学结果的可靠性。这对于捕获仪器观测中预期的低信噪比数据中的误差尤为重要。该奖项的更广泛的影响集中在一个名为“观察，数据分析和统计”的研究生课程的重组。除了通过使用同伴指导和点击器问题等新技术使课程现代化外，PI还将把宇宙微波背景的真实分析纳入课程中。 拟议的课程将有助于发展在整个研究科学家职业生涯中使用的核心技能。为这门课程编写的材料将在网上提供，以便在其他课程中使用。Halverson博士和他的团队还将在Fiske天文馆和其他场所进行公开讲座。

This proposal will fund the development of detector arrays and analysis software for a new scientific instrument that will be used on the NSF-funded South Pole Telescope. Undergraduates, graduate students, and a post-doctoral researcher will work on different facets of this research and instrumentation project. Observations of the cosmic microwave background with this instrument promise to provide insights into the physics of inflation and will help us understand the reionization history of the universe. Another component of this award will develop a data analysis pipeline for the aforementioned instrument. Such a pipeline is a critical component of modern astronomical instruments since it can be used to test the robustness of scientific results. This is especially important for catching errors in the low signal-to-noise data that is expected from the observations made by the instrument. The broader impacts of the award are centered on the restructuring of a graduate level course titled "Observations, Data Analysis, and Statistics". In addition to modernizing the course through the use of peer instruction and new techniques like clicker questions, the PI will incorporate real-world analysis of the Cosmic Microwave Background into the lessons. The proposed coursework will help develop the core skills that are used throughout the career of a research scientist. Materials developed for this course will be made available on the web so they can be used in other courses. Dr. Halverson and his team will also present public lectures at Fiske planetarium and other venues.