Homemade Cosmic Microwave Background detector

[PedroLencastre]

Hi Guys,

I studied physics for my bachelor but still I am not a super expert, although I am still working closely to physics (but not so much astronomy).

I was wondering if it would be possible to build a radio, or some other devise (any ideas?) that could be tuned at the frequency where the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is at its maximum. That would, in principle lead to a small bump in the noise heard, right? Or is it so subtel that, even in place with low external noise it would not be percievable?

The CMB peak is at a wavelength of 1.87 mm. The usual radio FM wave length is around 3 meters.

Any ideas or suggestions would be useful.

 

[fresh_42]

I always thought old TVs would do.

 

[mathman]

The CMB was first discovered by engineers at Bell Labs with a "home made" device.

 

[davenn]

I was wondering if it would be possible to build a radio, or some other devise (any ideas?) that could be tuned at the frequency where the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is at its maximum. That would, in principle lead to a small bump in the noise heard, right? Or is it so subtel that, even in place with low external noise it would not be percievable?

The CMB peak is at a wavelength of 1.87 mm. The usual radio FM wave length is around 3 meters.

Any ideas or suggestions would be useful.

would be VERY difficult without really specialist equip

1.87mm = 160 GHz ( round figs)
compared to FM broadcast
3m = 100MHz

I have used/built gear up to 24 GHz and that is difficult
some of my fellow radio operators have built gear up to 48 and 76 GHz, and that is EXTREMELY difficult
160 GHz is another whole new ball game again

so without a BIG dish antenna, serious test gear and lots of expert help, the short answer would be no
The other thing I haven't googled yet is if 160 GHz even penetrates the atmosphere and can be received at ground level
of if it can only be received from outside the Earth's atmosphere ... ie. an orbiting satellite observatory ??

Dave

 

[phyzguy]

The CMB was first discovered by engineers at Bell Labs with a "home made" device.

True, but it is not a small piece of equipment:

 

[davenn]

The CMB was first discovered by engineers at Bell Labs with a "home made" device.

and note where they worked and what they were
There weren't the avg joe blogs Dave