Coated dielectric lens design, modelling and measurements for future CMB polarimetry missions

We present an ongoing programme of work to investigate the use of large dielectric lenses with coating layers for future satellite-based cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarimetry missions. The primary purpose of this study is to validate modelling and manufacturing techniques. We present details of the study, and preliminary results of material and lens testing

Coated dielectric lens design, modelling and measurements for future CMB polarimetry missions

We present an ongoing programme of work to investigate the use of large dielectric lenses with coating layers for future satellite-based cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarimetry missions. The primary purpose of this study is to validate modelling and manufacturing techniques. We present details of the study, and preliminary results of material and lens testing

The Vega debris disc: A view from Herschel

We present five band imaging of the Vega debris disc obtained using the Herschel Space Observatory. These data span a wavelength range of 70-500 mu m with full-width half-maximum angular resolutions of 5.6-36.9 ''. The disc is well resolved in all bands, with the ring structure visible at 70 and 160 mu m. Radial profiles of the disc surface brightness are produced, and a disc radius of 11 '' (similar to 85AU) is determined. The disc is seen to have a smooth structure thoughout the entire wavelength range, suggesting that the disc is in a steady state, rather than being an ephemeral structure caused by the recent collision of two large planetesimals

Correlated photon studies of radio-labelled lipid vesicles

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Coated dielectric lenses for applications in high purity THz electromagnetic wave polarization detection

A comprehensive test programme has been implemented to enable the consideration of large refractive components with coating layers in the design of future satellite-based cosmic microwave background polarimetry missions. This requires understanding of systematic effects to an unprecedented level of precision, and validation of modelling tools and manufacturing techniques. We present the details of this study, and key results of the material and lens testing programme

Refractive telescope systems for future cosmic microwave background polarimetry experiments

This paper presents the key findings of an ESA-funded programme of work to investigate refractive systems and their application to precision polarimetry experiments. We briefly summarize the derivation of requirements on the optical system for CMB polarimetry, and the design of a refractive telescope system which meets these stringent requirements. An extensive programme of experimental work was undertaken in order to better understand the optical, thermal and mechanical characteristics of the lens material, and of lenses made from this material. A repeatable and controllable antireflection coating procedure was developed and validated, and used to coat lenses used in this study. Optical measurements before and after coating have been used to validate a new module for an industry-standard antenna modelling software package

Coated dielectric lens design, modelling and measurements for future CMB polarimetry missions

We present an ongoing programme of work to investigate the use of large dielectric lenses with coating layers for future satellite-based cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarimetry missions. The primary purpose of this study is to validate modelling and manufacturing techniques. We present details of the study, and preliminary results of material and lens testing

Coated dielectric lens design, modelling and measurements for future CMB polarimetry missions

We present an ongoing programme of work to investigate the use of large dielectric lenses with coating layers for future satellite-based cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarimetry missions. The primary purpose of this study is to validate modelling and manufacturing techniques. We present details of the study, and preliminary results of material and lens testing

Extragalactic Submillimetric Surveys with BLAST

The Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (BLAST) has recently conducted an extragalactic submillimetric survey of the Chandra Deep Field South region of unprecedented size, depth, and angular resolution in three wavebands centered at 250, 350, and 500 µm. BLAST wavelengths are chosen to study the Cosmic Infrared Background near its peak at 200 µm. We find that most of the CIB at these wavelengths is contributed by galaxies detected at 24 µm by the MIPS instrument on Spitzer, and that the source counts distribution shows a population with strongly evolving density and luminosity. These results anticipate what can be expected from the surveys that will be conducted with the SPIRE instrument on the Herschel space observatory

BLAST - The Balloon-borne Large Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope

The balloon-borne large aperture sub-millimeter telescope (BLAST) has recently completed a highly successful long duration balloon flight from Antarctica. The instrument design incorporates a 2 m diameter primary mirror, with large format bolometer arrays operating at 250, 350 and 500 microns. By providing the first sensitive large-area (10 sq. degrees) surveys at these wavelengths, BLAST will address some of the most important galactic and cosmological questions regarding the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies and clusters