Higher sensitivity CMB mapper (EBEX) launched

[marcus]

The balloon-borne EBEX microwave background mapper was let fly today. Andrew Jaffe's blog has a video of the launch, down in the Antarctic. video made by Aboobaker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-_2ESkCf94&

http://www.andrewjaffe.net/blog/sci...ampaign=Feed:+AJaffeMews+(Leaves+on+the+Line)

Jaffe says:
"EBEX is a next-generation CMB telescope, with hundreds of detectors measuring temperature and polarisation, which we hope will allow us to see the effects of an early epoch of cosmic inflation through the background of gravitational radiation that it produces. But right now, we are just hoping that EBEX catches some good winds in the Antarctic Polar Vortex and comes back around the continent after about two weeks of observing from 120,000 feet."

Here is Aboobaker's blog:
http://ebexinflight.blogspot.com
Aboobaker has described the experiment thus:
" The goal of EBEX is to make a map of the Cosmic Microwave Background polarization at an unprecedented sensitivity level, combining a large focal plane of sensitive transition-edge sensor bolometers with a 10-14 day long-duration balloon flight from the Antarctic while modulating the incoming polarization signal with a continuously-rotating half-wave plate."

Some background:
"... the EBEX experiment, a balloon-borne millimeter-wave telescope to study the faint afterglow of the Big Bang."
http://www.physics.umn.edu/people/asad.html

The name "E and B Experiment" refers to the electric and magnetic parts of the electromagnetic field.
http://groups.physics.umn.edu/cosmology/ebex/

 

[Drakkith]

Sweet! I love when new stuff goes operational!

Marcus, is this thing looking for signs of gravitational waves via their interaction with the CMB radiation when it was first created?

 

[cepheid]

Sweet! I love when new stuff goes operational!

Marcus, is this thing looking for signs of gravitational waves via their interaction with the CMB radiation when it was first created?

In a word, yes. Among other things, it's looking for a B-mode pattern of polarization, which would indicate the presence of the primordial gravitational waves predicted by inflation.

 

[cepheid]

The name "E and B Experiment" refers to the electric and magnetic parts of the electromagnetic field.
http://groups.physics.umn.edu/cosmology/ebex/

Just to clarify, it's not referring to the E and B fields from electromagnetism themselves. It's referring to E-modes and B-modes, two distinct patterns into which the pattern of CMB polarization anisotropy on the sky can be decomposed, each having different symmetry properties. The B-modes are "curl-like" and the E-modes "curl-free", hence, these modes are named by analogy with the E and B fields from E&M.

 

[sardar]

I am excited to hear about the launch of the EBEX CMB mapper. This is a significant advancement in the study of the cosmic microwave background and has the potential to provide valuable insights into the early universe. The use of hundreds of detectors to measure temperature and polarization is a major improvement in sensitivity and will allow us to potentially observe the effects of cosmic inflation.

The location of the launch in the Antarctic is also crucial, as the polar vortex provides stable and predictable winds that can carry the balloon around the continent for a long-duration flight. This will allow for extended observations of the CMB, which is essential for obtaining accurate and detailed measurements.

I am also impressed by the use of a continuously-rotating half-wave plate to modulate the incoming polarization signal. This technique will help to reduce potential sources of noise and improve the overall quality of the data collected.

Overall, the EBEX experiment is a significant step forward in our understanding of the early universe. I look forward to seeing the results from this mission and the potential insights it may provide into the origin and evolution of our universe.