The Quiet Project: Phase I

AST 0506648 Winstein该奖项将用于实施QUIET的第一阶段，这是一个测量宇宙微波背景（CMB）偏振的项目，其精度接近地面可能达到的极限。用相干探测器在从几弧分到几度的角尺度上以两个频率测量偏振。“安静合作”由来自加州理工学院、芝加哥大学、哥伦比亚大学、喷气推进实验室、迈阿密大学、普林斯顿大学和斯坦福大学的科学家组成。 来自英国牛津大学的一个小组也参加了这次活动，但资金是分开提供的;来自戈达德航天飞行中心和哈佛-史密森天体物理中心的个人担任顾问。第一阶段的目标是在位于智利阿塔卡马沙漠的望远镜上安装两套探测器，并进行两个季节的科学操作。 这些数据将：a）提供新辐射计技术工作的示范; B）给出最新技术水平的CMB功率谱测量的两种线性偏振模式，特别是B模式;以及c）提供在两个测量频率下可获得的CMB最深图。 QUIET不仅将对CMB本身进行有价值的测量，而且还将对前景信号（主要来自我们的银河系）进行有价值的测量，以便解开由于CMB偏振的清晰测量的最大障碍之一而造成的混乱。 QUIET的结果将补充持续的WMAP卫星观测，以及即将发射的欧洲-美国普朗克使命，通过考虑天空中不同的角度尺度和不同的偏振模式，并通过使用不同的频率，不同的接收器技术，以及不同的望远镜结构。 通过将低成本、大规模生产技术应用于低温毫米波电路，现在可以廉价地制造出具有最先进性能的超大型阵列。 这些偏振计的一个重要和独特的功能是系统的控制所产生的能力，同时测量两个偏振斯托克斯参数。该项目所开展的研究带来的好处超出了科学发现。 合作成员将继续为学生提供强有力的实践研究计划。 大学生将前往喷气推进实验室进行宝贵的技术培训，数百人将在定期上课时间了解科学知识。 这项工作将有助于提高公众对物理科学这一最迷人领域的理解。 在该项目的生命周期中，大约100多名本科生将为科学做出贡献，40多个公开讲座将由安静的科学家提供，他们还将帮助制作关于科学的广播和电视节目。为紧凑型低温QUIET阵列开发的基本封装技术可应用于CMB以外的许多领域，包括用于大气遥感、太阳系外行星热测绘和电信的阵列。

AST 0506648WinsteinThis award will be used to implement Phase I of QUIET, a project to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) with levels of precision approaching the limit of what is possible from the ground. The polarization is measured with coherent detectors at two frequencies over angular scales from a few arc-minutes to a few degrees. The QUIET Collaboration comprises scientists from CalTech; the University of Chicago; Columbia University; Jet Propulsion Laboratory; the University of Miami; Princeton University, and Stanford University. A group from Oxford University, UK is also participating but is separately funded; and individuals from Goddard Space Flight Center; and Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics are playing advisory roles. The goal for Phase I is to field two sets of detectors on telescopes situated in the Atacama desert in Chile, and carry out two seasons of science operations. These data will: a) provide the demonstration that the new radiometer technology works; b) give two modes of linear polarization, particularly the B-mode, of CMB power spectra measurements that are at the state of the art; and c) provide the deepest maps of the CMB available at the two frequencies of the measurements. QUIET will make valuable measurements not only of the CMB itself, but also of the foreground signals, mostly from our Galaxy, in order to disentangle confusion due to one of the biggest obstacles to a clean measurement of CMB polarization. Results from QUIET will complement the continuing WMAP satellite observations, and the soon-to-be-launched European-US Planck mission, by consideration of different angular scales on the sky and different polarization modes , and by use of different frequencies, different receiver technologies, and different telescope structures.The technological breakthrough that makes these measurements possible comes from a detector laboratory at JPL. Through the application of low-cost, mass production techniques to cryogenic millimeter-wave circuits, very large arrays can now be made inexpensively, with state-of-the-art performance. An important and unique feature of these polarimeters is the systematic control arising from their ability to measure both of the polarization Stokes parameters simultaneously. The research carried out with this project leads to benefits beyond scientific discoveries. Collaboration members will continue strong programs of hands-on research for students. University students will go to JPL for invaluable technical training and hundreds more will be informed of the science during regularly scheduled class time. The work will contribute to increased public understanding of this most fascinating area of the physical sciences. Over the life of the project, some 100 more undergraduates will have contributed to the science and over forty public lectures will be delivered by QUIET scientists who will also help create radio and TV shows about science. The basic packaging technology developed for the compact cryogenic QUIET arrays finds application in a number of fields beyond the CMB, including arrays for use in atmospheric remote sensing, thermal mapping of extrasolar planets, and telecommunications.