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Recovery of Large Angular Scale CMB Polarization for Instruments Employing Variable-Delay Polarization ModulatorsVariable-delay Polarization Modulators (VPMs) are currently being implemented in experiments designed to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background on large angular scales because of their capability for providing rapid, front-end polarization modulation and control over systematic errors. Despite the advantages provided by the VPM, it is important to identify and mitigate any time-varying effects that leak into the synchronously modulated component of the signal. In this paper, the effect of emission from a 300 K VPM on the system performance is considered and addressed. Though instrument design can greatly reduce the influence of modulated VPM emission, some residual modulated signal is expected. VPM emission is treated in the presence of rotational misalignments and temperature variation. Simulations of time-ordered data are used to evaluate the effect of these residual errors on the power spectrum. The analysis and modeling in this paper guides experimentalists on the critical aspects of observations using VPMs as front-end modulators. By implementing the characterizations and controls as described, front-end VPM modulation can be very powerful for mitigating 1/ f noise in large angular scale polarimetric surveys. None of the systematic errors studied fundamentally limit the detection and characterization of B-modes on large scales for a tensor-to-scalar ratio of r= 0.01. Indeed, r less than 0.01 is achievable with commensurately improved characterizations and controls.
Document ID
20170002403
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Miller, N. J.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Chuss, D. T.
(Villanova Univ. PA, United States)
Marriage, T. A.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Wollack, E. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Appel, J. W.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Bennett, C. L.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Eimer, J.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Essinger-Hileman, T.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Fixsen, D. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Harrington, K.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Moseley, S. H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Rostem, K.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Switzer, E. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Watts, D. J.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
March 21, 2017
Publication Date
February 17, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher: AAS/IOP Publishing partnership
Volume: 818
Issue: 2
e-ISSN: 1538-4357
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN40295
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF G0959349
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX14AB76A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF G1429236
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX14AM49H
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG06EO90A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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