Cryogenic Testbed Commissioning for Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes
Presenter(s)
Angelina Minocha
Faculty Research Mentor
Johanna Nagy
Do you plan to hold a Zoom Q&A Session?
No
Zoom Q&A Link
NA
Acknowledgments
McDonnell Center for Space Sciences, Department of Physics
Abstract or Description
Cosmic Microwave Background, the electromagnetic radiation that is found across the universe, is a lingering effect of the big bang. Today, it allows scientists to study the evolution, structure, and content of the universe. In order to map its polarization across the sky, the CMBS4 and Taurus projects are being developed to detect the relevant signals with high sensitivity.
Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) coupled to antennae that are sensitive to polarization are required to detect CMB photons, and they need to be operated at temperatures close to 100mK. Other instruments that are necessary for related data collection also need to be at extremely cold temperatures like 4K.
In order to prepare for the deployment of such detectors, they first need to be tested in realistic cryogenic testbeds.