CMB polarimetry with BICEP: Instrument characterization, calibration, and performance

Yuki D. Takahashi, Denis Barkats, John O. Battle, Evan M. Bierman, James J. Bock, H. Cynthia Chiang, C. Darren Dowell, Eric F. Hivon, William L. Holzapfel, Viktor V. Hristov, William C. Jones, J. P. Kaufman, Brian G. Keating, John M. Kovac, Chao Lin Kuo, Andrew E. Lange, Erik M. Leitch, Peter V. Mason, Tomotake Matsumura, Hien T. NguyenNicolas Ponthieu, Graca M. Rocha, Ki Won Yoon, P. Ade, L. Duband

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

BICEP is a ground-based millimeter-wave bolometric array designed to target the primordial gravity wave signature on the B-mode polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at degree angular scales. Currently in its third year of operation at the South Pole, BICEP is measuring the CMB polarization with unprecedented sensitivity at 100 and 150 GHz in the cleanest available 2% of the sky, as well as deriving independent constraints on the diffuse polarized foregrounds with select observations on and off the Galactic plane. Instrument calibrations are discussed in the context of rigorous control of systematic errors, and the performance during the first two years of the experiment is reviewed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMillimeter and Submillimeter Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IV
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventMillimeter and Submillimeter Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IV - Marseille, France
Duration: Jun 26 2008Jun 28 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7020
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherMillimeter and Submillimeter Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IV
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityMarseille
Period6/26/086/28/08

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • Bolometers
  • Cosmic microwave background polarization
  • Cosmology
  • Inflation
  • Mm-wave
  • South Pole

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