A Programme of Research in Astronomical Instrumentation and Cosmology

宇宙微波背景(CMB)是我们能从宇宙接收到的最早的电磁信号，对其性质的研究使我们能够测试宇宙如何开始以及结构是如何形成的理论，这些结构最终导致了我们今天看到的周围的星系和星系团。我们建议确定CMB的偏振特性，以便通过寻找当时产生的引力波产生的特征信号来测试非常早期的暴涨理论，并对星系进行调查，以检查前景并测试恒星形成区域的结构理论。为了保持英国在这一具有战略高度优先的科学领域的领先地位，我们还提出了一项计划，利用超材料的原理支持对波长从几微米到几毫米的专业光学部件的研究和开发，并提出一项计划，开发大量极灵敏的超导探测器，以便改进对来自CMB和星系的这些波长上令人难以置信的微弱信号的测量。我们还建议研究干涉测量方法，以提高未来太空任务中远红外波长的角分辨率。我们将参与一项积极的外联方案，教育公众，特别是在校儿童了解我们所从事的令人兴奋的科学，并希望鼓励更多的人因此从事科学事业。我们还将开展一项知识交流计划，以期将为天文学开发的技术应用于其他具有更广泛影响的目的，例如医学成像。

The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is the earliest electromagnetic signal we can receive from the Universe, and investigation of its properties allows us to test theories of how the Universe began and how structure was formed that has eventually led to the galaxies and clusters that we see around us today. We propose to determine the polarization properties of the CMB in order to test theories of the very early period known as inflation by looking for the characteristic signal caused by gravitational waves created at that time, and also to conduct surveys of the galaxy to check on foregrounds and test theories of the structure of regions where stars form. In order to maintain a UK lead in this strategically high priority area of science we also propose a programme of underpinning research and development into specialised optical components at wavelengths from a few microns to a few millimetres using the principles of what are known as meta-materials, and also a programme to develop very large numbers of extremely sensitive superconducting detectors in order to improve measurements of the incredibly weak signals from the CMB and galaxies at these wavelengths. We also propose to investigate the method of interferometry to improve angular resolution at far infrared wavelengths for future space missions. We will engage in an active programme of outreach to educate the public and especially school children in the exciting science that we do and hopefully encourage more to take up careers in science as a result. We will also conduct a knowledge exchange programme looking to apply the technology developed for astronomy to other purposes with wider impact, such as medical imaging for example.