Optical characterization of the keck array polarimeter at the south pole

A. G. Vieregg, P. A.R. Ade, R. Aikin, C. Bischoff, J. J. Bock, J. A. Bonetti, K. J. Bradford, J. A. Brevik, C. D. Dowell, L. Duband, J. P. Filippini, S. Fliescher, S. R. Golwala, M. S. Gordon, M. Halpern, G. Hilton, V. V. Hristov, K. Irwin, S. Kernasovskiy, J. M. KovacC. L. Kuo, E. Leitch, M. Lueker, T. Montroy, C. B. Netterfield, H. T. Nguyen, R. O'Brient, R. W. Ogburn IV, C. Pryke, J. E. Ruhl, M. Runyan, R. Schwarz, C. Sheehy, Z. Staniszewski, R. Sudiwala, G. Teply, J. Tolan, A. D. Turner, P. Wilson, C. L. Wong

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The Keck Array (SPUD) is a set of microwave polarimeters that observes from the South Pole at degree angular scales in search of a signature of Ination imprinted as B-mode polarization in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The first three Keck Array receivers were deployed during the 2010-2011 Austral summer, followed by two new receivers in the 2011-2012 summer season, completing the full five-receiver array. All five receivers are currently observing at 150 GHz. The Keck Array employs the field-proven BICEP/BICEP2 strategy of using small, cold, on-axis refractive optics, providing excellent control of systematics while maintaining a large field of view. This design allows for full characterization of far-field optical performance using microwave sources on the ground. We describe our efforts to characterize the main beam shape and beam shape mismatch between co-located orthogonally-polarized detector pairs, and discuss the implications of measured differential beam parameters on temperature to polarization leakage in CMB analysis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VI
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
EventMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VI - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Duration: Jul 3 2012Jul 6 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8452
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy VI
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityAmsterdam
Period7/3/127/6/12

Keywords

  • Cosmic microwave background
  • Ination
  • Polarization
  • The keck array

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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