RUI: Radio Astronomy in the Service of Cosmology

AST-0606975Partridge宇宙的历史和大尺度属性现在已经被很好地了解了，主要是因为对宇宙微波背景(CMB)温度波动的详细观测。观测宇宙学的关键下一步是探测和描述CMB中的极化波动，不幸的是，CMB的幅度要小得多。目前的研究计划有两个主要部分：利用甚大阵列和甚长基线阵列检查倒谱和千兆赫峰值射电源的极化，并调查以前未检测到的中性氢(在10 GHz)谱线可能被用来研究再电离时代的可能性。其中第一个将有助于确定在高频变得突出的射电源是否会构成未来CMB偏振研究的主要污染物。第二个是对早期大学进行研究的一个推测但潜在重要的新途径。这项研究的主要更广泛的影响在于鼓励和培养以本科生为主的学院的本科生。哈弗福德学院，尤其是这位研究人员，在把学生送到天文学和相关领域的职业生涯方面有着良好的记录，这些项目将有助于保持这一记录。该项目还包括教学研究、关于CMB历史的写作和演讲，以及努力将射电天文研究带给发展中国家的学生。

AST-0606975PartridgeThe history and large-scale properties of the Universe are now well understood, mostly because of detailed observations of the fluctuations in the temperature of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). The crucial next step in observational cosmology is the detection and characterization of polarized fluctuations in the CMB, which are unfortunately much smaller in amplitude. The present research program has two major components: to examine the polarization of inverted spectrum and gigahertz-peaked radio sources using the Very Large Array and the Very Long Baseline Array, and to investigate the possibility that a previously undetected spectral line of neutral hydrogen (at 10GHz) might be used to investigate the epoch of reionization. The first of these will help to determine if radio sources that become prominent at high frequencies could constitute a major contaminant for future CMB polarization studies. The second is a speculative but potentially important new avenue for investigation of the early Universe.The major broader impact of this research lies in the encouragement and training of undergraduate students at a predominantly undergraduate school. Haverford College, and this researcher in particular, has a fine record of sending students on to careers in astronomy and related fields, and these projects will help maintain that record. Also included in the program are pedagogical research, writing and talks on the history of the CMB, and efforts to bring radio astronomy research to students in developing nations.