Exploring the origin and fate of the universe with radio and millimeter-wave instrumentation and observations

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The primary focus of my research program is to shed light on the origin, fate, and composition of the universe through end-to-end direct astrophysical measurements. New instruments have been enabled by key technology developed by my group, opening new observational windows on some of the most exciting cosmic epochs. Group members have been key authors for important cosmology results with these instruments. My team co-developed and co-built the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), a novel new radio telescope that saw first light in Fall 2017. We have been at the core of the CHIME instrument design and realization, taking responsibility for the GHz digitizers and FPGA-based correlator and guiding the overall project. World leading cosmology and Fast Radio Burst science will be produced with CHIME this grant period. The other primary axis of my research is cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization instrumentation and analysis. With the new South Pole Telescope 3g (SPT3g) receiver, constructed with cryogenic readout technology developed and built by my team, we will reach map depths that allow us to accurately characterize the small angular scale B-mode power spectrum polarization signal. We are developing our instrumentation for satellite platforms, focusing on the Japanese-led LiteBIRD CMB polarimeter. I am the Principle Investigator for two contracts we recently received from the Canadian Space Agency to develop, plan and cost the Canadian contribution to LiteBIRD. The ambitious research goals for this five year grant period are: (1)Pioneer the analysis techniques and calibration strategies to use CHIME      a) for the best measurement of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations available at redshift 1 to 2.5, placing new constraints on Dark Energy, and      b) to provide the largest sample of Fast Radio Bursts, cataloging them with a known, uniform selection. To achieve this, my team will develop the correlator instrumentation techniques, calibration, observing strategy and data analysis for cylindrical digital radio telescopes. (2)Develop our team's digital readout technology, already deployed on SPT3g, for space, enabling the LiteBIRD satellite CMB polarimeter. Analyze new polarization data from SPT3g. (3)Develop instrumentation for new generation radio telescope stations that will allow precise localization of the FRBs. My group has earned an international reputation for driving advances in instrumentation that enable new cosmology measurements. The team includes astronomers, physicists and engineers. It derives part of its strength from racial, social, and gender diversity of team members. We collaborate frequently with industrial partners and spin-off technology has been used by many researchers internationally.