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International collaborations: COSMOCal P.I., NIKA2 core team; LiteBIRD, BISOU, MISTRAL collaborations.
COSMOCal
COSmological Microwave Observations Calibrator
COSMOCal
COSmological Microwave Observations Calibrator
Co-leaders: Alessia Ritacco & François Boulanger.
International collaboration
Region of Paris (FR): CENSUS, LERMA, LPENS, IAS, APC, IAP.
Grenoble (FR): LPSC, IPAG, Néel institute, IRAM.
Toulouse (FR): IRAP.
Italy: Universities: Tor Vergata, Sapienza, Milano-Bicocca. Institutes: INAF - OAC and OAS.
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization detection provides unique insights into primordial Universe physics. Specifically, the CMB B-modes encode the imprint of primordial gravitational waves as predicted by the Inflation theory (Polnarev 1985). Detecting this faint signal and probe this very early epoch of the Universe drives the development of high-sensitivity experiments, like the Simons Observatory and CMB-S4 on the ground, and LiteBIRD in space.
The CMB polarization exhibits also a coherent and symmetric signal due to density fluctuations in the primordial Universe. Physical effects, such as the Cosmic Birefringence (Minami, Yuto et al 2018), would naturally convert the E-modes into B-modes; as well as any instrumental miscalibration.
The COSMOCal project has as objective the creation of a calibration method, which not rely on model assumptions on the CMB or galactic foreground physics, enabling to interpret the future CMB maps in an unprecented manner.
The project is in phase of conception, focusing for instance on the construction of a prototype of an artificial millimeter source emitting in the frequency band 200-300 GHz funded by the CEntre pour les Nanosatellites en Sciences de l'UniverS, to be tested at the IRAM 30m telescope by 2024. The primary goal of the project is to provide a reference in the frequency range (90-300 GHz) for the polarization angle absolute calibration of next generation of CMB experiments. More details are provided in the panel below.
Here https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.12135 you find the pre-print of the article illustrating the state-of-art of the project.
Sardinia Radio Telescope
Sardinia Radio Telescope
Upgrade to higher frequencies
The Sardinia Radio Telescope located in San Basilio (IT) is being upgraded to extend its observing capabilities up to 116 GHz.
It is already operating for observations in total intensity and polarization from 0.3 to 26 GHz. Four new receivers will be installed at the telescope during 2022-2023.
I will work on the scientific commissioning that will follow.
For more information visit the SRT web site http://www.srt.inaf.it/.
NIKA2 camera
NIKA2 camera
NIKA2 is a dual band continuum camera observing the sky at 150 GHz (2.05 mm) and 260 GHz (1.15 mm) from the IRAM 30m telescope located at 2850 m in the spanish Sierra Nevada [Perotto et al. 2020]. NIKA2 scientific objectives span from solar system physics to cosmology. Moreover it observes at 260 GHz in polarization through a state-of-art Half-Wave-Plate to modulate the incoming polarization [see Pisano, G., Ritacco, A. et al. (2022) A&A 658, A24 and Ritacco, A., Ponthieu, N., Catalano, A. et al. (2017) A&A 599, A34]. During my doctoral thesis and first post doc I have highly contributed to the difinition of its performance on sky observations.
LiteBIRD space mission
LiteBIRD space mission
The LiteBIRD satellite is the next space mission for Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) studies. It is planned to orbit the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point L2, where it will map the microwave sky with three state-of-art telescopes in 15 frequency bands between 34 and 448 GHz. The primary goal of the project is to uncover the origins of the universe and how it began. The cosmic inflation, a short period of nearly exponential expansion of space in the early universe, is the prevailing theory that can explain the Universe as we observe it today. The LiteBIRD mission aims to find evidence of cosmic inflation through polarization observations of the CMB.
I am working within the European team to the definition of the medium-high-frequency-telescope (MHFT).
Check-out here 2023PTEP.2023d2F01L a complete review on this topic.
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