New Technologies for Measurements of the Polarization of the Cosmic microwave Background

by Prof. Paul L. Richards (University of California, Berkeley)

Thursday 9 Sept 2010, 15:00 → 18:00 Europe/Rome

Aula Conversi (Dip. di Fisica - Edificio G. Marconi)

Measurements of the anisotropy of the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background are beginning, which promise new kinds of cosmological information. The E-mode polarization vectors topology, analogous to an electric field has been observed but not thoroughly studied. It provides measurements of cosmological constants, which supplement those from temperature anisotropy. The much weaker B-mode topology, analogous to a magnetic field, has not been observed but promises information on topics as diverse as particle physics at grand unification energies and the neutrino mass. This lecture will describe and compare several powerful new measurement technologies based on large format arrays of transition edge sensor (TES) bolometric detectors, which are being implemented by several groups. The Polar Bear experiment will then be discussed, which has completed engineering tests in Eastern California and is being moved to Chile to begin CMB polarizations observations in the spring.