Paper 13102-191
The European low frequency survey on the Simons Array
On demand | Presented live 19 June 2024
Abstract
In this paper we present the European Low Frequency Survey (ELFS), a project that will enable foregrounds-free measurements of the primordial B-mode polarization and a detection of the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r, to a level σ(r) = 0:001 by measuring the Galactic and extra-galactic emissions in the 5–120 GHz frequency window. Indeed, the main difficulty in measuring the B-mode polarization comes from the fact that many other processes in the Universe also emit polarized microwaves, which obscure the faint Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) signal. The first stage of this project is being carried out in synergy with the Simons Array (SA) collaboration, installing a 5.5–11GHz (X-band) coherent receiver at the focus of one of the three 3.5m SA telescopes in Atacama, Chile, followed by the installation of the QUIJOTE-MFI2 in the 10–20 GHz range. We designate this initial iteration of the ELFS program as ELFS-SA. The receivers are equipped with a fully digital back-end that will provide a frequency resolution of 1MHz across the band, allowing us to clean the scientific signal from unwanted radio frequency interference, particularly from low-Earth orbit satellite mega constellations. This paper reviews the scientific motivation for ELFS and its instrumental characteristics, and provides an update on the development of ELFS-SA.
Presenter
Univ. degli Studi di Milano (Italy), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Italy)
I am Full Professor at the Physics Department of the University of Milan. Since 1999 I study experimental cosmology with particular reference to the development of high sensitivity receivers for Cosmic Microwave Background measurements. I have participated to the ESA space mission Planck, and now I am active in the CMB experiments LSPE, QUBIC, and in the international ELFS initiative. In Planck I have been Calibration Scientist for the Low Frequency instrument, in LSPE I am Program Manager and Deputy PI for the Strip instrument and in QUBIC I am member of the Collaboration Board and I manage the development of the instrument antenna array. In ELFS I coordinate the Italian activities. My activity is documented in more than 290 publications on international journals, about 40 contributions to international conferences and more than 70 technical reports.