Optimal strategy for polarization modulation in the LSPE-SWIPE experiment

Context. Cosmic microwave background (CMB) B-mode experiments are required to control systematic effects with an unprecedented level of accuracy. Polarization modulation by a half wave plate (HWP) is a powerful technique able to mitigate a large number of the instrumental systematics. Aims. Our goal is to optimize the polarization modulation strategy of the upcoming LSPE-SWIPE balloon-borne experiment, devoted to the accurate measurement of CMB polarization at large angular scales. Methods. We departed from the nominal LSPE-SWIPE modulation strategy (HWP stepped every 60 s with a telescope scanning at around 12 deg/s) and performed a thorough investigation of a wide range of possible HWP schemes (either in stepped or continuously spinning mode and at different azimuth telescope scan-speeds) in the frequency, map and angular power spectrum domain. In addition, we probed the effect of high-pass and band-pass filters of the data stream and explored the HWP response in the minimal case of one detector for one operation day (critical for the single-detector calibration process). We finally tested the modulation performance against typical HWP-induced systematics. Results. Our analysis shows that some stepped HWP schemes, either slowly rotating or combined with slow telescope modulations, represent poor choices. Moreover, our results point out that the nominal configuration may not be the most convenient choice. While a large class of spinning designs provides comparable results in terms of pixel angle coverage, map-making residuals and BB power spectrum standard deviations with respect to the nominal strategy, we find that some specific configurations (e.g., a rapidly spinning HWP with a slow gondola modulation) allow a more efficient polarization recovery in more general real-case situations. Conclusions. Although our simulations are specific to the LSPE-SWIPE mission, the general outcomes of our analysis can be easily generalized to other CMB polarization experiments

CMB Polarization: Scientific Case and Data Analysis Issues

We review the science case for studying CMB polarization. We then discuss the main issues related to the analysis of forth-coming polarized CMB data, such as those expected from balloon-borne (e.g. BOOMERanG) and satellite (e.g. Planck) experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. To appear in "Astrophysical Polarized Background" Workshop Proceedings, eds. S. Cecchini, S. Cortiglioni, R. Sault and C. Sbarra, AIP, in pres

A Map-Making Algorithm for the Planck Surveyor

We present a parallel implementation of a map-making algorithm for CMB anisotropy experiments which is both fast and efficient. We show for the first time a Maximum Likelihood, minimum variance map obtained by processing the entire data stream expected from the Planck Surveyor, under the assumption of a symmetric beam profile. Here we restrict ourselves to the case of the 30 GHz channel of the Planck Low Frequency Instrument. The extension to Planck higher frequency channels is straightforward. If the satellite pointing periodicity is good enough to average data that belong to the same sky circle, then the code runs very efficiently on workstations. The serial version of our code also runs on very competitive time-scales the map-making pipeline for current and forthcoming balloon borne experiments.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures. Reflects accepted A&A versio

Deprojection of galaxy cluster X-ray, Sunyaev-Zeldovich temperature decrement, and weak-lensing mass maps

A general method of deprojecting two-dimensional images to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the projected object (specifically, X-ray, Sunyaev-Zeldovich [SZ], and gravitational lensing maps of rich clusters of galaxies), assuming axial symmetry, is considered. Here we test the applicability of the method for realistic, numerically simulated galaxy clusters, viewed from three orthogonal projections at four redshift outputs. We demonstrate that the assumption of axial symmetry is a good approximation for the three-dimensional structure in this ensemble of galaxy clusters. Applying the method, we demonstrate that a unique determination of the cluster inclination angle is possible from comparison between the SZ and X-ray images and, independently, between SZ and surface density maps. Moreover, the results from these comparisons are found to be consistent with each other and with the full three-dimensional structure inclination angle determination. The radial dark matter and gas density profiles as calculated from the actual and reconstructed three-dimensional distributions show a very good agreement. The method is also shown to provide a direct determination of the baryon fraction in clusters, independent of the cluster inclination angle.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/60622/1/Zaroubi2000Deprojection.pd

A first assessment of genetic variability in the longhorn beetle Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Italian Apennines

The Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina) is a strictly protected saproxylic beetle, widely distributed in Central and Southern Europe and mainly associated with ancient beech forests. To improve knowledge about the conservation status of R. alpina in Italy, available molecular markers (microsatellites and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I(COI)) were tested for the first time on Italian populations. The study was performed in four sampling sites distributed in two areas placed in Northern (“Foreste Casentinesi” National Park) and Central Apennines (“Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise” National Park) where populational data about Rosalia longicorn were collected in the framework of the European LIFE MIPP Project. The genetic relationship among Apennine and Central/South-eastern European populations was explored by a comparison with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data from literature. Microsatellite markers were only partially informative when applied to R. alpina Italian individuals, although providing some preliminary indication on an extensive gene flow among populations from the Apennines and local ongoing processes of genetic erosion. Genetic data are consistent with previous ecological data suggesting that the maintenance of variability in this species could be related to both habitat continuity and preservation of large senescent or standing dead trees in forests. Finally, a peculiar origin of the Apennine populations of R. alpina from a putative “Glacial Refugium” in Italy was inferred through COI data. The high genetic distance scored among the analysed populations and those from Central and South-eastern Europe indicates that the R. alpina deme from Apennine Mountains might represent a relevant conservation unit in Europe. Further genetic analyses will allow assessing other possible conservation units of R. alpina and, thus, defining large-scale conservation strategies to protect this endangered longhorn beetle in Europe

First-Principles Approach to Electrorotation Assay

We have presented a theoretical study of electrorotation assay based on the spectral representation theory. We consider unshelled and shelled spheroidal particles as an extension to spherical ones. From the theoretical analysis, we find that the coating can change the characteristic frequency at which the maximum rotational angular velocity occurs. The shift in the characteristic frequency is attributed to a change in the dielectric properties of the bead-coating complex with respect to those of the uncoated particles. By adjusting the dielectric properties and the thickness of the coating, it is possible to obtain good agreement between our theoretical predictions and the assay data.Comment: 17 pages, 4 eps figures; minor revisions, accepted for publications by J. Phys.: Condens. Matte

ROMA: a map-making algorithm for polarised CMB data sets

We present ROMA, a parallel code to produce joint optimal temperature and polarisation maps out of multidetector CMB observations. ROMA is a fast, accurate and robust implementation of the iterative generalised least squares approach to map-making. We benchmark ROMA on realistic simulated data from the last, polarisation sensitive, flight of BOOMERanG.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Version with higher quality figures available at http://www.fisica.uniroma2.it/~cosmo/ROM

A catalogue of observed geo-effective CME/ICME characteristics

One of the goals of Space Weather studies is to achieve a better understanding of impulsive phenomena, such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), in order to improve our ability to forecast them and mitigate the risk to our technologically driven society. The essential part of achieving this goal is to assess the performance of forecasting models. To this end, the quality and availability of suitable data are of paramount importance. In this work, we have merged already publicly available data of CMEs from both in-situ and remote instrumentation in order to build a database of CME properties. To evaluate the accuracy of such a database and confirm the relationship between in-situ and remote observations, we have employed the drag-based model (DBM) due to its simplicity and inexpensive cost of computational resources. In this study, we have also explored the parameter space for the drag parameter and solar wind speed using a Monte Carlo approach to evaluate how well the DBM determines the propagation of CMEs for the events in the dataset. The dataset of geoeffective CMEs constructed as a result of this work provides validation of the initial hypothesis about DBM, and solar wind speed and also yields further insight into CME features like arrival time, arrival speed, lift-off time, etc. Using a data-driven approach, this procedure allows us to present a homogeneous, reliable, and robust dataset for the investigation of CME propagation. On the other hand, possible CME events are identified where DBM approximation is not valid due to model limitations and higher uncertainties in the input parameters, those events require more thorough investigation