The cosmic microwave background: observing directly the early universe

Paolo de Bernardis; Silvia Masi

doi:10.1117/12.979916

21 September 2012 The cosmic microwave background: observing directly the early universe

Paolo de Bernardis, Silvia Masi

Proceedings Volume 8442, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 844203 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.979916
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is a relict of the early universe. Its perfect 2.725K blackbody spectrum demonstrates that the universe underwent a hot, ionized early phase; its anisotropy (about 80 µK rms) provides strong evidence for the presence of photon-matter oscillations in the primeval plasma, shaping the initial phase of the formation of structures; its polarization state (about 3 µK rms), and in particular its rotational component (less than 0.1 µK rms) might allow to study the inflation process in the very early universe, and the physics of extremely high energies, impossible to reach with accelerators. The CMB is observed by means of microwave and mm-wave telescopes, and its measurements drove the development of ultra-sensitive bolometric detectors, sophisticated modulators, and advanced cryogenic and space technologies. Here we focus on the new frontiers of CMB research: the precision measurements of its linear polarization state, at large and intermediate angular scales, and the measurement of the inverse-Compton effect of CMB photons crossing clusters of Galaxies. In this framework, we will describe the formidable experimental challenges faced by ground-based, near-space and space experiments, using large arrays of detectors. We will show that sensitivity and mapping speed improvement obtained with these arrays must be accompanied by a corresponding reduction of systematic effects (especially for CMB polarimeters), and by improved knowledge of foreground emission, to fully exploit the huge scientific potential of these missions.

Citation Download Citation

Paolo de Bernardis and Silvia Masi "The cosmic microwave background: observing directly the early universe", Proc. SPIE 8442, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 844203 (21 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.979916

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KEYWORDS

Polarization

Sensors

Telescopes

Space telescopes

Anisotropy

Photons

Microwave radiation

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