141 research outputs found
Evidence for Spatial Separation of Galactic Dust Components
We present an implementation of a Bayesian mixture model using Hamiltonian
Monte Carlo (HMC) techniques to search for spatial separation of Galactic dust
components. Utilizing intensity measurements from \Planck High Frequency
Instrument (HFI), we apply this model to high-latitude Galactic dust emission.
Our analysis reveals a strong preference for a spatially-varying two-population
dust model in intensity, with each population being well characterized by a
single-component dust spectral-energy distribution (SED). While no spatial
information is built into the likelihood, our investigation unveils spatially
coherent structures with high significance, pointing to a physical origin for
the observed spatial separation. These results are robust to our choice of
likelihood and of input data. Furthermore, they are favored over a
single-component dust model by Bayesian evidence calculations.
Incorporating \IRAS 100\, to constrain the Wein-side of the blackbody
function, we find the dust populations differ at the level on the
spectral index () vs. temperature plane. The presence of a
multi-population dust has implications for component separation techniques
frequently employed in the recovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures. Submitted to Ap
Design of 280 GHz feedhorn-coupled TES arrays for the balloon-borne polarimeter SPIDER
We describe 280 GHz bolometric detector arrays that instrument the
balloon-borne polarimeter SPIDER. A primary science goal of SPIDER is to
measure the large-scale B-mode polarization of the cosmic microwave background
in search of the cosmic-inflation, gravitational-wave signature. 280 GHz
channels aid this science goal by constraining the level of B-mode
contamination from galactic dust emission. We present the focal plane unit
design, which consists of a 1616 array of conical, corrugated feedhorns
coupled to a monolithic detector array fabricated on a 150 mm diameter silicon
wafer. Detector arrays are capable of polarimetric sensing via waveguide
probe-coupling to a multiplexed array of transition-edge-sensor (TES)
bolometers. The SPIDER receiver has three focal plane units at 280 GHz, which
in total contains 765 spatial pixels and 1,530 polarization sensitive
bolometers. By fabrication and measurement of single feedhorns, we demonstrate
14.7 FHWM Gaussian-shaped beams with 1% ellipticity in a 30%
fractional bandwidth centered at 280 GHz. We present electromagnetic
simulations of the detection circuit, which show 94% band-averaged,
single-polarization coupling efficiency, 3% reflection and 3% radiative loss.
Lastly, we demonstrate a low thermal conductance bolometer, which is
well-described by a simple TES model and exhibits an electrical noise
equivalent power (NEP) = 2.6 10 W/,
consistent with the phonon noise prediction.Comment: Proceedings of SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 201
Freeform three-mirror anastigmatic large-aperture telescope and receiver optics for CMB-S4
CMB-S4, the next-generation ground-based cosmic microwave background (CMB)
observatory, will provide detailed maps of the CMB at millimeter wavelengths to
dramatically advance our understanding of the origin and evolution of the
universe. CMB-S4 will deploy large and small aperture telescopes with hundreds
of thousands of detectors to observe the CMB at arcminute and degree
resolutions at millimeter wavelengths. Inflationary science benefits from a
deep delensing survey at arcminute resolutions capable of observing a large
field of view at millimeter wavelengths. This kind of survey acts as a
complement to a degree angular resolution survey. The delensing survey requires
a nearly uniform distribution of cameras per frequency band across the focal
plane. We present a large-throughput, large-aperture (5-meter diameter)
freeform three-mirror anastigmatic telescope and an array of 85 cameras for CMB
observations at arcminute resolutions, which meets the needs of the delensing
survey of CMB-S4. A detailed prescription of this three-mirror telescope and
cameras is provided, with a series of numerical calculations that indicate
expected optical performance and mechanical tolerance
Comparative Analysis of Microfluidics Thrombus Formation in Multiple Genetically Modified Mice: Link to Thrombosis and Hemostasis
Genetically modified mice are indispensable for establishing the roles of platelets in arterial thrombosis and hemostasis. Microfluidics assays using anticoagulated whole blood are commonly used as integrative proxy tests for platelet function in mice. In the present study, we quantified the changes in collagen-dependent thrombus formation for 38 different strains of (genetically) modified mice, all measured with the same microfluidics chamber. The mice included were deficient in platelet receptors, protein kinases or phosphatases, small GTPases or other signaling or scaffold proteins. By standardized re-analysis of high-resolution microscopic images, detailed information was obtained on altered platelet adhesion, aggregation and/or activation. For a subset of 11 mouse strains, these platelet functions were further evaluated in rhodocytin- and laminin-dependent thrombus formation, thus allowing a comparison of glycoprotein VI (GPVI), C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC2) and integrin alpha(6)beta(1) pathways. High homogeneity was found between wild-type mice datasets concerning adhesion and aggregation parameters. Quantitative comparison for the 38 modified mouse strains resulted in a matrix visualizing the impact of the respective (genetic) deficiency on thrombus formation with detailed insight into the type and extent of altered thrombus signatures. Network analysis revealed strong clusters of genes involved in GPVI signaling and Ca2+ homeostasis. The majority of mice demonstrating an antithrombotic phenotype in vivo displayed with a larger or smaller reduction in multi-parameter analysis of collagen-dependent thrombus formation in vitro. Remarkably, in only approximately half of the mouse strains that displayed reduced arterial thrombosis in vivo, this was accompanied by impaired hemostasis. This was also reflected by comparing in vitro thrombus formation (by microfluidics) with alterations in in vivo bleeding time. In conclusion, the presently developed multi-parameter analysis of thrombus formation using microfluidics can be used to: (i) determine the severity of platelet abnormalities;(ii) distinguish between altered platelet adhesion, aggregation and activation;and (iii) elucidate both collagen and non-collagen dependent alterations of thrombus formation. This approach may thereby aid in the better understanding and better assessment of genetic variation that affect in vivo arterial thrombosis and hemostasis
Pointing control for the SPIDER balloon-borne telescope
We present the technology and control methods developed for the pointing
system of the SPIDER experiment. SPIDER is a balloon-borne polarimeter designed
to detect the imprint of primordial gravitational waves in the polarization of
the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. We describe the two main components
of the telescope's azimuth drive: the reaction wheel and the motorized pivot. A
13 kHz PI control loop runs on a digital signal processor, with feedback from
fibre optic rate gyroscopes. This system can control azimuthal speed with <
0.02 deg/s RMS error. To control elevation, SPIDER uses stepper-motor-driven
linear actuators to rotate the cryostat, which houses the optical instruments,
relative to the outer frame. With the velocity in each axis controlled in this
way, higher-level control loops on the onboard flight computers can implement
the pointing and scanning observation modes required for the experiment. We
have accomplished the non-trivial task of scanning a 5000 lb payload
sinusoidally in azimuth at a peak acceleration of 0.8 deg/s, and a peak
speed of 6 deg/s. We can do so while reliably achieving sub-arcminute pointing
control accuracy.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, Presented at SPIE Ground-based and Airborne
Telescopes V, June 23, 2014. To be published in Proceedings of SPIE Volume
914
Lensing in the Blue. II. Estimating the Sensitivity of Stratospheric Balloons to Weak Gravitational Lensing
The Superpressure Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT) is a diffraction-limited, wide-field, 0.5 m, near-infrared to near-ultraviolet observatory designed to exploit the stratosphere's space-like conditions. SuperBIT's 2023 science flight will deliver deep, blue imaging of galaxy clusters for gravitational lensing analysis. In preparation, we have developed a weak-lensing measurement pipeline with modern algorithms for PSF characterization, shape measurement, and shear calibration. We validate our pipeline and forecast SuperBIT survey properties with simulated galaxy cluster observations in SuperBIT's near-UV and blue bandpasses. We predict imaging depth, galaxy number (source) density, and redshift distribution for observations in SuperBIT's three bluest filters; the effect of lensing sample selections is also considered. We find that, in three hours of on-sky integration, SuperBIT can attain a depth of b = 26 mag and a total source density exceeding 40 galaxies per square arcminute. Even with the application of lensing-analysis catalog selections, we find b-band source densities between 25 and 30 galaxies per square arcminute with a median redshift of z = 1.1. Our analysis confirms SuperBIT's capability for weak gravitational lensing measurements in the blue
Lensing in the Blue II: Estimating the Sensitivity of Stratospheric Balloons to Weak Gravitational Lensing
The Superpressure Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT) is a
diffraction-limited, wide-field, 0.5 m, near-infrared to near-ultraviolet
observatory designed to exploit the stratosphere's space-like conditions.
SuperBIT's 2023 science flight will deliver deep, blue imaging of galaxy
clusters for gravitational lensing analysis. In preparation, we have developed
a weak lensing measurement pipeline with modern algorithms for PSF
characterization, shape measurement, and shear calibration. We validate our
pipeline and forecast SuperBIT survey properties with simulated galaxy cluster
observations in SuperBIT's near-UV and blue bandpasses. We predict imaging
depth, galaxy number (source) density, and redshift distribution for
observations in SuperBIT's three bluest filters; the effect of lensing sample
selections is also considered. We find that in three hours of on-sky
integration, SuperBIT can attain a depth of b = 26 mag and a total source
density exceeding 40 galaxies per square arcminute. Even with the application
of lensing-analysis catalog selections, we find b-band source densities between
25 and 30 galaxies per square arcminute with a median redshift of z = 1.1. Our
analysis confirms SuperBIT's capability for weak gravitational lensing
measurements in the blue.Comment: Submitted to Astronomical Journa
Phenolic metabolites in the resistance of northern forest trees to pathogens — past experiences and future prospects
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