---+++ EBEX
EBEX is a balloon-borne experiment that will allow us to probe the earliest moments of the universe by measuring the polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB). This polarization has been called the "smoking gun" of inflation, as it is thought to be the signature of gravitational waves produced when the universe expanded at greater than light speed. To read more about polarization's importance to cosmology please see this short introduction, PolarizationIntro. Suffice to say that careful measurement of the CMB polarization has been recommended as the primary focus for cosmology studies by several international reports including the 2003 National Research Council report Connecting Quarks with Cosmos.
As a balloon experiment, EBEX faces some significant challenges. It is only possible to detect the faint signature of inflation on the CMB with an extremely sensitive experiment. Technically, EBEX is a polarimeter, it works somewhat like a typical telescope except a half wave plate is placed between the detection equipment and the sky. This plate rotates while acting like a typical polarizer, allowing only one orientation of the polarization to pass to the detectors. Thus, the polarization map of the sky can be reconstructed from the varying intensity at the detectors.
Here is a list of some of the key components, pages describing each will be developed as time permits.
This topic: Main > WebHome > EBEX Topic revision: r4 - 2008-02-18 - MattDobbs
As a balloon experiment, EBEX faces some significant challenges. It is only possible to detect the faint signature of inflation on the CMB with an extremely sensitive experiment. Technically, EBEX is a polarimeter, it works somewhat like a typical telescope except a half wave plate is placed between the detection equipment and the sky. This plate rotates while acting like a typical polarizer, allowing only one orientation of the polarization to pass to the detectors. Thus, the polarization map of the sky can be reconstructed from the varying intensity at the detectors.
Here is a list of some of the key components, pages describing each will be developed as time permits.
- SpiderWebBolometers - An array of these acts as the detectors.
- TransitionEdgeSensors (TES's) - Will be used to read the temperature change of the bolometers
- Cryogenics- Since the bolometers are so sensitive the background noise will have to be very low. The only way to accomplish sufficiently low background is to cool the system to a cooler temperature than the signal it is trying to measure, this is accomplished with cryogenics capable of getting the system down to 300mK.
- ReadoutElectronics - The signal detected by the TES's will have to be processed and sent to the analysis computer.
- SQUIDControlBoard - Some info on the SQUID control board.
| I | Attachment | Action | Size | Date | Who | Comment |
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EBEX_diag.gif | manage | 60.3 K | 2007-01-15 - 19:06 | KevinMacDermid |
This topic: Main > WebHome > EBEX Topic revision: r4 - 2008-02-18 - MattDobbs
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