A demonstrator for bolometric interferometry

Bolometric Interferometry (BI) is one of the most promising techniques for precise measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background polarization. In this paper, we present the results of DIBO (Demonstrateur d'Interferometrie Bolometrique), a single-baseline demonstrator operating at 90 GHz, built to proof the validity of the BI concept applied to a millimeter-wave interferometer. This instrument has been characterized in the laboratory with a detector at room temperature and with a 4 K bolometer. This allowed us to measure interference patterns in a clean way, both (1) rotating the source and (2) varying with time the phase shift among the two interferometer's arms. Detailed modelisation has also been performed and validated with measurements.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure

Probing neutrino masses with CMB lensing extraction

We evaluate the ability of future cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments to measure the power spectrum of large scale structure using quadratic estimators of the weak lensing deflection field. We calculate the sensitivity of upcoming CMB experiments such as BICEP, QUaD, BRAIN, ClOVER and PLANCK to the non-zero total neutrino mass M_nu indicated by current neutrino oscillation data. We find that these experiments greatly benefit from lensing extraction techniques, improving their one-sigma sensitivity to M_nu by a factor of order four. The combination of data from PLANCK and the SAMPAN mini-satellite project would lead to sigma(M_nu) = 0.1 eV, while a value as small as sigma(M_nu) = 0.035 eV is within the reach of a space mission based on bolometers with a passively cooled 3-4 m aperture telescope, representative of the most ambitious projects currently under investigation. We show that our results are robust not only considering possible difficulties in subtracting astrophysical foregrounds from the primary CMB signal but also when the minimal cosmological model (Lambda Mixed Dark Matter) is generalized in order to include a possible scalar tilt running, a constant equation of state parameter for the dark energy and/or extra relativistic degrees of freedom.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. One new figure and references added. Version accepted for publicatio

Four dof Piezoelectric Microgripper Equipped with a Smart CMOS Camera.

International audienceThis paper deals with the design of a micro-eyein- hand architecture. It consists of a smart camera embedded on a gripper. The camera is a high speed (10 000 fps) CMOS sensor of 64 64 pixels. Each pixel measures 35 m 35 m and includes a photodiode, an amplifier, two storage capacitors, and an analog arithmetic unit. The gripper consists of a 4 dof (degrees-of-freedom) (y+, y-, z+, z-) microprehensile based on piezoelectric actuators

Polarization experiments

Possible instrumental set--ups for the measurement of CMB polarization are reviewed in this article. We discuss existing and planned instruments, putting special emphasis on observational, instrumental, and data processing issues for the detection of very low polarization signals of prime cosmological interest. A short prospective summary is included

Modeling of Planck-high frequency instrument bolometers using non-linear effects

Abstract The Planck satellite, which is planned to be launched in 2007, is dedicated to surveying the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) to a high precision. Aboard this mission, the High-Frequency Instrument (HFI) will use 52 NTD Ge spiderweb bolometers made by Caltech-JPL and cooled to 100 mK by a dilution cooler. In this paper, we present a model of these detectors that includes non-linear effects seen in NTD Ge thermometers: electron-phonon decoupling and electrical field effect. We show that this model leads to consider only electrical field effect. Furthermore, the optical characterization of the HFI bolometers clearly shows a non-ideal behavior that is explained by non-linear effects in the thermometer. We finally show that these effects have to be taken into account for optimized CMB observations and to fully understand the physics of semi-conducting bolometers. r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 95.55.J

PRISM (Polarized Radiation Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission): A White Paper on the Ultimate Polarimetric Spectro-Imaging of the Microwave and Far-Infrared Sky

PRISM (Polarized Radiation Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) was proposed to ESA in response to the Call for White Papers for the definition of the L2 and L3 Missions in the ESA Science Programme. PRISM would have two instruments: (1) an imager with a 3.5m mirror (cooled to 4K for high performance in the far-infrared---that is, in the Wien part of the CMB blackbody spectrum), and (2) an Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) somewhat like the COBE FIRAS instrument but over three orders of magnitude more sensitive. Highlights of the new science (beyond the obvious target of B-modes from gravity waves generated during inflation) made possible by these two instruments working in tandem include: (1) the ultimate galaxy cluster survey gathering 10e6 clusters extending to large redshift and measuring their peculiar velocities and temperatures (through the kSZ effect and relativistic corrections to the classic y-distortion spectrum, respectively) (2) a detailed investigation into the nature of the cosmic infrared background (CIB) consisting of at present unresolved dusty high-z galaxies, where most of the star formation in the universe took place, (3) searching for distortions from the perfect CMB blackbody spectrum, which will probe a large number of otherwise inaccessible effects (e.g., energy release through decaying dark matter, the primordial power spectrum on very small scales where measurements today are impossible due to erasure from Silk damping and contamination from non-linear cascading of power from larger length scales). These are but a few of the highlights of the new science that will be made possible with PRISM.Comment: 20 pages Late

Detection chain and electronic readout of the QUBIC instrument

The Q and U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology (QUBIC) Technical Demonstrator (TD) aiming to shows the feasibility of the combination of interferometry and bolometric detection. The electronic readout system is based on an array of 128 NbSi Transition Edge Sensors cooled at 350mK readout with 128 SQUIDs at 1K controlled and amplified by an Application Specific Integrated Circuit at 40K. This readout design allows a 128:1 Time Domain Multiplexing. We report the design and the performance of the detection chain in this paper. The technological demonstrator unwent a campaign of test in the lab. Evaluation of the QUBIC bolometers and readout electronics includes the measurement of I-V curves, time constant and the Noise Equivalent Power. Currently the mean Noise Equivalent Power is ~ 2 x 10⁻¹⁶ W/√Hz

Detection chain and electronic readout of the QUBIC instrument

The Q and U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology (QUBIC) Technical Demonstrator (TD) aiming to shows the feasibility of the combination of interferometry and bolometric detection. The electronic readout system is based on an array of 128 NbSi Transition Edge Sensors cooled at 350mK readout with 128 SQUIDs at 1K controlled and amplified by an Application Specific Integrated Circuit at 40K. This readout design allows a 128:1 Time Domain Multiplexing. We report the design and the performance of the detection chain in this paper. The technological demonstrator unwent a campaign of test in the lab. Evaluation of the QUBIC bolometers and readout electronics includes the measurement of I-V curves, time constant and the Noise Equivalent Power. Currently the mean Noise Equivalent Power is ~ 2 x 10⁻¹⁶ W/√Hz

Contributions à la définition des besoins scientifiques et des solutions instrumentales du projet Planck-HFI

The Planck satellite, which will be launch in 2007, is the third generation of instruments dedicated to the measurement of the anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background, with a sensitivity about 600 times better than COBE. This important progress will be achieved thanks to the technology evolution in the field of bolometric detectors, cryogenics and low noise readout electronics. Such a sensitive measurement needs to control different aspect, which are intimately coupled: acquisition of low level signals, production and monitoring of low temperatures, control of radiation straylight and stability of the measurement. This thesis deals with the relations between these aspects but also reports my contribution to the technological progresses in these fields. The two first chapters describe on one hand the astrophysical context and on the other hand the Planck mission and the High Frequency Instrument (HFI). The third chapter depicts the installation of the Symbol test bench that allowed me to test and to validate technological solutions for HFI. The straylight problem is treated in the chapter 5 and leads to the temperature stability specification of the Planck-HFI different stages. This leads me to study the technological solutions that allow getting the 100mK bolometer stage temperature stability specification, subject treated in the 6th chapter. The 7th chapter deals with HFI thermometry in terms of precision and sensitivity. Finally, the last chapter shows how these progresses make possible the detection by Planck-HFI of the dipole effect in the Cosmic Infrared Background due to the emission of distant redshifted galaxies that are not resolved.Le satellite Planck, dont le lancement est prévu en 2007, constituera la troisième génération d'instruments dédiés à l'observation de l'anisotropie du corps noir cosmologique, avec une sensibilité environ 600 fois meilleure que COBE. C'est grâce à l'évolution des technologies instrumentales au niveau des détecteurs bolométriques, de la cryogénie et de l'électronique à faible bruit que cette avancée considérable est possible. Une mesure aussi sensible demande la maîtrise de plusieurs aspects intimement liés: l'acquisition de signaux bas niveau, la production et la maîtrise des basses températures, le contrôle du rayonnement parasite et la stabilité de la mesure. Ce mémoire traite des relations entre ces différents aspects mais aussi des avancées technologiques auxquelles j'ai contribué dans chacun de ces domaines. Les deux premiers chapitres sont consacrés à la description d'une part du contexte scientifique et d'autre part du satellite Planck et de l'instrument HFI (High Frequency Instrument). Le troisième chapitre expose la mise au point et l'utilisation du cryostat Symbol qui m'a permis de tester et de valider des solutions techniques pour HFI. Le quatrième chapitre concerne la chaîne de détection bolométrique et le développement d'un système symétrique pour HFI. Le problème de la lumière parasite est traité en chapitre 5 et conduit aux spécifications de stabilité de température des différents étages de Planck-HFI. Ceci m'a ammené à étudier les solutions technologiques permettant d'atteindre ces spécifications au niveau de l'étage 100mK supportant les bolomètres, sujet traité en chapitre 6, alors que le chapitre 7 est consacré à la thermométrie HFI du point de vue de la sensibilité et de la précision. Enfin, le dernier chapitre montre comment ces progrès instrumentaux rendent possible la détection par Planck-HFI de l'effet dipolaire dans le Fond Diffus Extragalactique Sub-millimétrique (FDES) provenant de l'émission intégrée des galaxies qui ne sont pas résolues