Department of Physics
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NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
New CMB Polarization Results from QUIET at 43-GHz
Date: Thursday, January 27th
Time: 4:00 pm
Place: 4274 Chamberlin Hall
Speaker: Immanuel Buder, University of Chicago
Abstract: Inflationary cosmology postulates that the Universe underwent a period of accelerated expansion in the first 10^-30 s after the Big Bang. Inflationary models are attractive because they solve outstanding problems in cosmology: the origin of structure, the absence of monopoles, and the horizon and flatness problems. Although inflation is consistent with existing data, the fundamental physics responsible for it is unknown. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) measurements promise to verify one of the predictions of inflation: odd-parity polarization modes (B modes).

CMB B modes have not yet been detected. The Q/U Imaging ExperimenT (QUIET) recently reported a measurement of the CMB polarization at 43-GHz (Q band). This is one of the best limits to date on inflationary B modes. Moreover the unique QUIET design leads to the lowest levels of systematic contamination in the inflationary signal reported by any CMB polarization experiment.

I will describe the QUIET instrument, how it mitigates systematic contamination, and results from the first season of Q-band observation. I will also report the status of analysis of the second-season 95-GHz (W-band) data.
Host: Peter Timbie
Presentation: https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/presentations/2003.pdf
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