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5,120 Superconducting Bolometers for the PIPER Balloon-Borne CMB Polarization ExperimentWe are constructing the Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) to measure the polarization o[ the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and search for the imprint of gravity waves produced during an inflationary epoch in the early universe. The signal is faint and lies behind confusing foregrounds, both astrophysical and cosmological, and so many detectors are required to complete the measurement in a limited time. We will use four of our matured 1,280 pixel, high-filling-factor backshort-under-grid bolometer arrays for efficient operation at the PIPER CMB wavelengths. All four arrays observe at a common wavelength set by passband filters in the optical path. PIPER will fly four times to observe at wavelengths of 1500, 1100, 850, and 500 microns in order to separate CMB from foreground emission. The arrays employ leg-isolated superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers operated at 128mK; tuned resonant backshorts for efficient optical coupling; and a second-generation superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexer readout. We describe the design, development, and performance of PIPER bo|ometer array technology to achieve background-limited sensitivity for a cryogenic balloon-borne telescope.
Document ID
20100033359
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Benford, Dominic J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chuss, David T.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hilton, Gene C.
(National Inst. of Standards and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Irwin, Kent D.
(National Inst. of Standards and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Jethava, Nikhil S.
(Global Science and Technology Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Jhabvala, Christine A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kogut, Alan J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Miller, Timothy M.
(MEI Technologies, Inc. Seabrook, MD, United States)
Mirel, Paul
(Global Science and Technology Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Moseley, S. Harvey
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Rostem, Karwan
(Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. TN, United States)
Sharp, Elmer H.
(Global Science and Technology Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Staguhn, Johannes G.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Stiehl, gregory M.
(National Inst. of Standards and Technology Boulder, CO, United States)
Voellmer, George M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Wollack, Edward J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
July 15, 2010
Publication Information
Publication: Proceedings of SPIE
Volume: 7741
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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