BICEP3: A 95GHz refracting telescope for degree-scale CMB polarization

Z. Ahmed, M. Amiri, S. J. Benton, J. J. Bock, R. Bowens-Rubin, I. Buder, E. Bullock, J. Connors, J. P. Filippini, J. A. Grayson, M. Halpern, G. C. Hilton, V. V. Hristov, H. Hui, K. D. Irwin, J. Kang, K. S. Karkare, E. Karpel, J. M. Kovac, C. L. KuoC. B. Netterfield, H. T. Nguyen, R. O'Brient, R. W. Ogburn, C. Pryke, C. D. Reintsema, S. Richter, K. L. Thompson, A. D. Turner, A. G. Vieregg, W. L K Wu, K. W. Yoon

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

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bicep3 is a 550 mm-aperture refracting telescope for polarimetry of radiation in the cosmic microwave background at 95 GHz. It adopts the methodology of Bicep1, Bicep2 and the Keck Array experiments | it possesses sufficient resolution to search for signatures of the inflation-induced cosmic gravitational-wave background while utilizing a compact design for ease of construction and to facilitate the characterization and mitigation of systematics. However, Bicep3 represents a significant breakthrough in per-receiver sensitivity, with a focal plane area 5x larger than a Bicep2/Keck Array receiver and faster optics (f=1:6 vs. f=2:4). Large-aperture infrared-reflective metal-mesh filters and infrared-absorptive cold alumina filters and lenses were developed and implemented for its optics. The camera consists of 1280 dual-polarization pixels; each is a pair of orthogonal antenna arrays coupled to transition-edge sensor bolometers and read out by multiplexed SQUIDs. Upon deployment at the South Pole during the 2014-15 season, Bicep3 will have survey speed comparable to Keck Array 150 GHz (2013), and will signifcantly enhance spectral separation of primordial B-mode power from that of possible galactic dust contamination in the Bicep2 observation patch.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VII
EditorsJonas Zmuidzinas, Wayne S. Holland
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9780819496218
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
EventMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VII - Montreal, Canada
Duration: Jun 24 2014Jun 27 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9153
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VII
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityMontreal
Period6/24/146/27/14

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 SPIE.

Keywords

  • BICEP
  • Cosmic Microwave Background
  • Gravitational Waves
  • Ination
  • Keck Array
  • Polarization

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