181 research outputs found
A dual-band millimeter-wave kinetic inductance camera for the IRAM 30-meter telescope
Context. The Neel IRAM KIDs Array (NIKA) is a fully-integrated measurement
system based on kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) currently being developed
for millimeter wave astronomy. In a first technical run, NIKA was successfully
tested in 2009 at the Institute for Millimetric Radio Astronomy (IRAM) 30-meter
telescope at Pico Veleta, Spain. This prototype consisted of a 27-42 pixel
camera imaging at 150 GHz. Subsequently, an improved system has been developed
and tested in October 2010 at the Pico Veleta telescope. The instrument
upgrades included dual-band optics allowing simultaneous imaging at 150 GHz and
220 GHz, faster sampling electronics enabling synchronous measurement of up to
112 pixels per measurement band, improved single-pixel sensitivity, and the
fabrication of a sky simulator to replicate conditions present at the
telescope. Results. The new dual-band NIKA was successfully tested in October
2010, performing in-line with sky simulator predictions. Initially the sources
targeted during the 2009 run were re-imaged, verifying the improved system
performance. An optical NEP was then calculated to be around 2 \dot 10-16
W/Hz1/2. This improvement in comparison with the 2009 run verifies that NIKA is
approaching the target sensitivity for photon-noise limited ground-based
detectors. Taking advantage of the larger arrays and increased sensitivity, a
number of scientifically-relevant faint and extended objects were then imaged
including the Galactic Center SgrB2(FIR1), the radio galaxy Cygnus A and the
NGC1068 Seyfert galaxy. These targets were all observed simultaneously in the
150 GHz and 220 GHz atmospheric windows.Comment: Submitted to ApJ (abstract reduced to fit ApJ standards
SPT-3G: A Next-Generation Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization Experiment on the South Pole Telescope
We describe the design of a new polarization sensitive receiver, SPT-3G, for
the 10-meter South Pole Telescope (SPT). The SPT-3G receiver will deliver a
factor of ~20 improvement in mapping speed over the current receiver, SPTpol.
The sensitivity of the SPT-3G receiver will enable the advance from statistical
detection of B-mode polarization anisotropy power to high signal-to-noise
measurements of the individual modes, i.e., maps. This will lead to precise
(~0.06 eV) constraints on the sum of neutrino masses with the potential to
directly address the neutrino mass hierarchy. It will allow a separation of the
lensing and inflationary B-mode power spectra, improving constraints on the
amplitude and shape of the primordial signal, either through SPT-3G data alone
or in combination with BICEP-2/KECK, which is observing the same area of sky.
The measurement of small-scale temperature anisotropy will provide new
constraints on the epoch of reionization. Additional science from the SPT-3G
survey will be significantly enhanced by the synergy with the ongoing optical
Dark Energy Survey (DES), including: a 1% constraint on the bias of optical
tracers of large-scale structure, a measurement of the differential Doppler
signal from pairs of galaxy clusters that will test General Relativity on ~200
Mpc scales, and improved cosmological constraints from the abundance of
clusters of galaxies.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures. To be published in Proceedings of SPIE Volume
9153. Presented at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2014,
conference 915
Design and Analysis of Telescope Receiver Systems for Future Far-Infrared Missions
The main topic of this thesis is the design and analysis of the Cosmic ORigins
Explorer (CORE) telescope, a proposed mission for the ESA M5 mission call.
Its focus was the study of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), particularly
its polarisation. An ambitious space mission, it would endeavour to detect
elusive primordial B-modes. B-modes are considered the key piece of evidence
for inflation theory and require extraordinary sensitivity to detect. CORE would
house up to 2100 detectors on its large, super-cooled focal plane; granting the
high sensitivity and wide field of view (FOV) required for CMB study but leads
to challenging optical design. Maynooth’s role was to examine telescope designs
capable of delivering diffraction-limited quality field of view over this 50 cm focal
plane area. Two telescope designs (Offset Gregorian and Offset Dragonian) were
analysed. The import and export of the mirrors with correct surface definition
and orientation form a central part of this work. Physical optics analysis program
GRASP was used to simulate beams on the sky from various focal plane
positions to verify the positioning of different frequency detectors over the focal
plane. This work would form a part of the CORE proposal.
In addition, analysis was carried out on the receiver of the Large Latin American
Millimetre Array (LLAMA) telescope, currently under construction in Argentina.
Based on existing Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA)
telescope designs, LLAMA is an independent instrument that will be able to study
a large array of astronomical phenomenon at millimetre wavelengths. Eventually
it plans to form the first South American Very Long Baseline Interferometer
(VLBI) array alongside ALMA and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX).
The Department of Experimental Physics was asked to perform analysis using
three frequency bands on the Nasmyth B receiver of the telescope and the author
was given the task
ATS-4 study program, volume 3 Final report
Parabolic reflector design and fabrication, and thermal and structural dynamic analyses for Applications Technology Satellite-
Design and analysis of a quasi-optical beam combiner for the QUBIC CMB interferometer
In winter 2009 a number of physicists met in Paris to discuss the prospect of observing
the CMB B-mode polarization using a novel technique called bolometric interferometry.
This was the first meeting of what would later become the QUBIC
collaboration. In this thesis we discuss the scientific reasons for CMB observation, we
present a detailed explanation of how QUBIC will use bolometric interferometry to
measure CMB polarization and in particular we discuss the author's contribution to
the project. As part of the sub-mm optics research group in the National University of
Ireland Maynooth the author was charged with the design and modeling of the optics
that would focus the beam from the sky onto the bolometric detectors. This thesis
describes various types of re
ecting and refracting optics that were investigated. The
results we present are useful not only for the QUBIC instrument, but for the design
of imaging experiments in general.
Detection of CMB B-mode polarization is one of the supreme goals of modern cosmology.
The faintness of this signal, combined with the interferometric observing technique,
places extreme performance specifications on the QUBIC optics. Fortunately,
as we shall show, there are types of well-known re
ecting and refracting telescopes
that are suitable for QUBIC. In this thesis I propose a design for the quasi-optical
combiner that will perform as required
Development of a scanning system for use in the Terahertz region of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
This thesis concerned the development of a scanner system for use in the Terahertz region of the Electromagnetic spectrum. The approach used by the prototype developed, utilises two tilting mirrors for the purposes of scanning a target under investigation. An object is scanned by tilting an incident beam of radiation to a point of interest on the target, on this basis an image can be formed on a point by point basis.
The Thesis begins with an Introduction to THz radiation and its associated properties. The need for a Terahertz scanner and the potential applications in the biomedical, security and space research are outlined. The reader is then introduced to various approaches utilised by currently existing scanners and the approach used for the work carried out in this thesis outlined in detail.
The techniques used for computationally modelling diffraction limited optical systems are discussed namely Fresnel Diffraction, Gaussian Beam Mode Analysis (GBMA) and Physical Optics. The effectiveness of these techniques are highlighted by using each method to model elementary optical systems. The techniques are then used to computationally model the optical system used for the prototype developed and results presented.
The final section is concerned with the development of the prototype including background theory on components used, implementation of the components and verification of alignment procedure. The development of the computer controlled tilting mirror system and its integration with the prototype is also outlined. Finally the results of the operational scanning prototype are presented and discussed
Development of a scanning system for use in the Terahertz region of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
This thesis concerned the development of a scanner system for use in the Terahertz region of the Electromagnetic spectrum. The approach used by the prototype developed, utilises two tilting mirrors for the purposes of scanning a target under investigation. An object is scanned by tilting an incident beam of radiation to a point of interest on the target, on this basis an image can be formed on a point by point basis.
The Thesis begins with an Introduction to THz radiation and its associated properties. The need for a Terahertz scanner and the potential applications in the biomedical, security and space research are outlined. The reader is then introduced to various approaches utilised by currently existing scanners and the approach used for the work carried out in this thesis outlined in detail.
The techniques used for computationally modelling diffraction limited optical systems are discussed namely Fresnel Diffraction, Gaussian Beam Mode Analysis (GBMA) and Physical Optics. The effectiveness of these techniques are highlighted by using each method to model elementary optical systems. The techniques are then used to computationally model the optical system used for the prototype developed and results presented.
The final section is concerned with the development of the prototype including background theory on components used, implementation of the components and verification of alignment procedure. The development of the computer controlled tilting mirror system and its integration with the prototype is also outlined. Finally the results of the operational scanning prototype are presented and discussed
SPT-3G: A Next-Generation Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization Experiment on the South Pole Telescope
We describe the design of a new polarization sensitive receiver, SPT-3G, for the 10-meter South Pole Telescope (SPT). The SPT-3G receiver will deliver a factor of ~20 improvement in mapping speed over the current receiver, SPT-POL. The sensitivity of the SPT-3G receiver will enable the advance from statistical detection of B-mode polarization anisotropy power to high signal-to-noise measurements of the individual modes, i.e., maps. This will lead to precise (~0.06 eV) constraints on the sum of neutrino masses with the potential to directly address the neutrino mass hierarchy. It will allow a separation of the lensing and inflationary B-mode power spectra, improving constraints on the amplitude and shape of the primordial signal, either through SPT-3G data alone or in combination with BICEP2/KECK, which is observing the same area of sky. The measurement of small-scale temperature anisotropy will provide new constraints on the epoch of reionization. Additional science from the SPT-3G survey will be significantly enhanced by the synergy with the ongoing optical Dark Energy Survey (DES), including: a 1% constraint on the bias of optical tracers of large-scale structure, a measurement of the differential Doppler signal from pairs of galaxy clusters that will test General Relativity on ~200Mpc scales, and improved cosmological constraints from the abundance of clusters of galaxies
NASA Tech Briefs, June 2009
Topics covered include: Device for Measuring Low Flow Speed in a Duct, Measuring Thermal Conductivity of a Small Insulation Sample, Alignment Jig for the Precise Measurement of THz Radiation, Autoignition Chamber for Remote Testing of Pyrotechnic Devices, Microwave Power Combiners for Signals of Arbitrary Amplitude, Synthetic Foveal Imaging Technology, Airborne Antenna System for Minimum-Cycle-Slip GPS Reception, Improved Starting Materials for Back-Illuminated Imagers, Multi-Modulator for Bandwidth-Efficient Communication, Some Improvements in Utilization of Flash Memory Devices, GPS/MEMS IMU/Microprocessor Board for Navigation, T/R Multi-Chip MMIC Modules for 150 GHz, Pneumatic Haptic Interfaces, Device Acquires and Retains Rock or Ice Samples, Cryogenic Feedthrough Test Rig, Improved Assembly for Gas Shielding During Welding or Brazing, Two-Step Plasma Process for Cleaning Indium Bonding Bumps, Tool for Crimping Flexible Circuit Leads, Yb14MnSb11 as a High-Efficiency Thermoelectric Material, Polyimide-Foam/Aerogel Composites for Thermal Insulation, Converting CSV Files to RKSML Files, Service Management Database for DSN Equipment, Chemochromic Hydrogen Leak Detectors, Compatibility of Segments of Thermoelectric Generators, Complementary Barrier Infrared Detector, JPL Greenland Moulin Exploration Probe, Ultra-Lightweight Self-Deployable Nanocomposite Structure for Habitat Applications, and Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids for Electrochemical Capacitors
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