2,322 research outputs found
DASI Three-Year Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization Results
We present the analysis of the complete 3-year data set obtained with the
Degree Angular Scale Interferometer (DASI) polarization experiment, operating
from the Amundsen-Scott South Pole research station. Additional data obtained
at the end of the 2002 Austral winter and throughout the 2003 season were added
to the data from which the first detection of polarization of the cosmic
microwave background radiation was reported. The analysis of the combined data
supports, with increased statistical power, all of the conclusions drawn from
the initial data set. In particular, the detection of E-mode polarization is
increased to 6.3 sigma confidence level, TE cross-polarization is detected at
2.9 sigma, and B-mode polarization is consistent with zero, with an upper limit
well below the level of the detected E-mode polarization. The results are in
excellent agreement with the predictions of the cosmological model that has
emerged from CMB temperature measurements. The analysis also demonstrates that
contamination of the data by known sources of foreground emission is
insignificant.Comment: 13 pages Latex, 10 figures, submitted to Ap
Cosmological Parameter Extraction from the First Season of Observations with DASI
The Degree Angular Scale Interferometer (\dasi) has measured the power
spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy over the range of
spherical harmonic multipoles 100<l<900. We compare this data, in combination
with the COBE-DMR results, to a seven dimensional grid of adiabatic CDM models.
Adopting the priors h>0.45 and 0.0<=tau_c<=0.4, we find that the total density
of the Universe Omega_tot=1.04+/-0.06, and the spectral index of the initial
scalar fluctuations n_s=1.01+0.08-0.06, in accordance with the predictions of
inflationary theory. In addition we find that the physical density of baryons
Omega_b.h^2=0.022+0.004-0.003, and the physical density of cold dark matter
Omega_cdm.h^2=0.14+/-0.04. This value of Omega_b.h^2 is consistent with that
derived from measurements of the primordial abundance ratios of the light
elements combined with big bang nucleosynthesis theory. Using the result of the
HST Key Project h=0.72+/-0.08 we find that Omega_t=1.00+/-0.04, the matter
density Omega_m=0.40+/-0.15, and the vacuum energy density
Omega_lambda=0.60+/-0.15. (All 68% confidence limits.)Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, minor changes in response to referee comment
A 6-12 GHz Analogue Lag-Correlator for Radio Interferometry
Aims: We describe a 6-12 GHz analogue correlator that has been developed for
use in radio interferometers. Methods: We use a lag-correlator technique to
synthesis eight complex spectral channels. Two schemes were considered for
sampling the cross-correlation function, using either real or complex
correlations, and we developed prototypes for both of them. We opted for the
``add and square'' detection scheme using Schottky diodes over the more
commonly used active multipliers because the stability of the device is less
critical. Results: We encountered an unexpected problem, in that there were
errors in the lag spacings of up to ten percent of the unit spacing. To
overcome this, we developed a calibration method using astronomical sources
which corrects the effects of the non-uniform sampling as well as gain error
and dispersion in the correlator.Comment: 14 pages, 21 figures, accepted for publication in A&
A 6-12 GHz Analogue Lag-Correlator for Radio Interferometry
Aims: We describe a 6-12 GHz analogue correlator that has been developed for
use in radio interferometers. Methods: We use a lag-correlator technique to
synthesis eight complex spectral channels. Two schemes were considered for
sampling the cross-correlation function, using either real or complex
correlations, and we developed prototypes for both of them. We opted for the
``add and square'' detection scheme using Schottky diodes over the more
commonly used active multipliers because the stability of the device is less
critical. Results: We encountered an unexpected problem, in that there were
errors in the lag spacings of up to ten percent of the unit spacing. To
overcome this, we developed a calibration method using astronomical sources
which corrects the effects of the non-uniform sampling as well as gain error
and dispersion in the correlator.Comment: 14 pages, 21 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Upgrading Light Hydrocarbons via Tandem Catalysis: A Dual Homogeneous Ta/Ir System for Alkane/Alkene Coupling
Light alkanes and alkenes are abundant but are underutilized as energy carriers because of their high volatility and low energy density. A tandem catalytic approach for the coupling of alkanes and alkenes has been developed in order to upgrade these light hydrocarbons into heavier fuel molecules. This process involves alkane dehydrogenation by a pincer-ligated iridium complex and alkene dimerization by a Cp*TaCl_2(alkene) catalyst. These two homogeneous catalysts operate with up to 60/30 cooperative turnovers (Ir/Ta) in the dimerization of 1-hexene/n-heptane, giving C_(13)/C_(14) products in 40% yield. This dual system can also effect the catalytic dimerization of n-heptane (neohexene as the H_2 acceptor) with cooperative turnover numbers of 22/3 (Ir/Ta)
DASI First Results: A Measurement of the Cosmic Microwave Background Angular Power Spectrum
We present measurements of anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background
(CMB) from the first season of observations with the Degree Angular Scale
Interferometer (DASI). The instrument was deployed at the South Pole in the
austral summer 1999--2000, and made observations throughout the following
austral winter. We have measured the angular power spectrum of the CMB in the
range 100<l<900 with high signal-to-noise. In this paper we review the
formalism used in the analysis, in particular the use of constraint matrices to
project out contaminants such as ground and point source signals, and to test
for correlations with diffuse foreground templates. We find no evidence of
foregrounds other than point sources in the data, and find a maximum likelihood
temperature spectral index beta = -0.1 +/- 0.2 (1 sigma), consistent with CMB.
We detect a first peak in the power spectrum at l approx 200, in agreement with
previous experiments. In addition, we detect a peak in the power spectrum at l
approx 550 and power of similar magnitude at l approx 800 which are consistent
with the second and third harmonic peaks predicted by adiabatic inflationary
cosmological models.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, minor changes in response to referee comment
The QUIET Instrument
The Q/U Imaging ExperimenT (QUIET) is designed to measure polarization in the Cosmic Microwave Background, targeting the imprint of inflationary gravitational waves at large angular scales ( approx 1 deg.) . Between 2008 October and 2010 December, two independent receiver arrays were deployed sequentially on a 1.4 m side-fed Dragonian telescope. The polarimeters which form the focal planes use a highly compact design based on High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) that provides simultaneous measurements of the Stokes parameters Q, U, and I in a single module. The 17-element Q-band polarimeter array, with a central frequency of 43.1 GHz, has the best sensitivity (69 micro Ks(exp 1/2)) and the lowest instrumental systematic errors ever achieved in this band, contributing to the tensor-to-scalar ratio at r < 0.1. The 84-element W-band polarimeter array has a sensitivity of 87 micro Ks(exp 1/2) at a central frequency of 94.5 GHz. It has the lowest systematic errors to date, contributing at r < 0.01 (QUIET Collaboration 2012) The two arrays together cover multipoles in the range l approximately equals 25-975 . These are the largest HEMT-ba.sed arrays deployed to date. This article describes the design, calibration, performance of, and sources of systematic error for the instrument
Polarization Diffusion from Spacetime Uncertainty
A model of Lorentz invariant random fluctuations in photon polarization is
presented. The effects are frequency dependent and affect the polarization of
photons as they propagate through space. We test for this effect by confronting
the model with the latest measurements of polarization of Cosmic Microwave
Background (CMB) photons.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
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