Study of the Cosmic Reionization Epoch using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope

利用巨型米波射电望远镜研究宇宙再电离纪

• 批准号: 1009615
• 负责人: Jeffrey Peterson
• 金额: $ 26.19万
• 依托单位: Carnegie-Mellon University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1009615&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Study; Cosmic; Reionization; Epoch; using

The potential for cosmological observations in the 21 cm line, using the Universe's phase transition from neutral to ionized hydrogen called the Epoch of Reionization (EoR), has been widely recognized. The EoR, when the first stars, proto-galaxies and quasars emerged, is a very interesting time, because that object formation leads to patchy 21-cm brightness structure, which should be detectable today at redshifts near nine. Several large telescopes sensitive at meter wavelengths are already being used in attempts to detect and eventually map this patchiness. A great deal of theoretical work has been dedicated to predicting 21 cm signatures, and many groups are awaiting the first observational data. This project will use the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) to observe the patchy neutral gas and thus pin down the timing of the reionization as well as the duration of the partially ionized era.To achieve these astronomical goals, this study will continue a program of noise reduction at GMRT, including the elimination of terrestrial noise sources and the installation of lower noise amplifiers, which will benefit all users of the telescope. Additional benefits will come from the development of new signal processing techniques, from programs to make astronomy and physics more accessible to students and to the public, and from several programs specifically targeting high school students.

利用被称为再电离时期（EoR）的宇宙从中性到电离氢的相变，在21厘米线上进行宇宙学观测的潜力已经得到了广泛的认可。 EoR是第一批恒星、原星系和类星体出现的时候，这是一个非常有趣的时期，因为天体的形成导致了21厘米的斑片状亮度结构，这在今天的红移接近9时应该可以探测到。 几个在米波段敏感的大型望远镜已经被用来试图探测并最终绘制这种斑块。 大量的理论工作致力于预测21厘米的签名，许多团体正在等待第一个观测数据。 这项研究将利用巨型米波射电望远镜（GMRT）观测片状中性气体，从而确定再电离的时间以及部分电离时代的持续时间。为了实现这些天文目标，这项研究将继续在GMRT进行降噪计划，包括消除地面噪声源和安装低噪声放大器，这将使望远镜的所有用户受益。 额外的好处将来自新的信号处理技术的发展，从计划，使天文学和物理学更容易为学生和公众，并从几个专门针对高中生的计划。