MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Quasi-Optical Design and Analysis of a Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Experiments


    Scully, Stephen (2016) Quasi-Optical Design and Analysis of a Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Experiments. PhD thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.

    [img]
    Preview
    Download (18MB) | Preview


    Share your research

    Twitter Facebook LinkedIn GooglePlus Email more...



    Add this article to your Mendeley library


    Abstract

    From humble beginnings in 2008, a group met to propose the idea of observing the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) in order to determine its polarisation properties, i.e. E- and B-modes. B-modes, a smoking gun for inflation theory, are a long sought after observation for cosmologists. From this the QUBIC collaboration was born. Here we explore the scientific justification for such a mission and the aims of the QUBIC telescope in furthering this knowledge with emphasis on the author’s contribution to this end. B-modes are far fainter than any other signal that cosmology has attempted detection of before making them a challenge and requiring a new type of telescope with exceptional sensitivity and control of systematics. The author was heavily involved in the design and analysis of the optical combiner here at the Department of Experimental Physics in Maynooth University. This thesis describes the analysis techniques used for the characterisation of the operation of the QUBIC instrument. These techniques: TE/TM mode matching, Gaussian beam mode analysis and physical optics were used in determination of the behaviour of the instrument in 2 bands, 150 GHz and 220 GHz with 25% bandwidth in each case. The analysis was done mainly using 2 software packages, SCATTER and MODAL, both of which are in-house developments and as such offer customisation of their capabilities. QUBIC required detailed analysis which led to design modifications and allowed for confident design of new elements for inclusion in the optical-combiner. I present an optical design for QUBIC, a bolometric interferometer for cosmology which, at the time printing, is under construction awaiting shipping to Dome-C Antarctica to commence observation.

    Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
    Keywords: Quasi-Optical Design; Bolometric Interferometer; Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Experiments;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Experimental Physics
    Item ID: 7083
    Depositing User: IR eTheses
    Date Deposited: 26 Apr 2016 13:36
    URI:
      Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

      Repository Staff Only(login required)

      View Item Item control page

      Downloads

      Downloads per month over past year

      Origin of downloads