Project description
Improved cryogenic optics key to next-generation cosmic microwave background experiments
Future experiments mapping the cosmic microwave background radiation will revolutionise our understanding of the early universe, galaxy formation and the nature of dark matter, while also enabling us to extend the Standard Model into a complete theory. The success of future efforts largely hinges on the ability to significantly enhance the performance of current instruments. The EU-funded CMBeam project aims to build a novel cryogenic holography facility to carry out optical measurements that will be critical for the success of next-generation cosmic microwave background experiments. Furthermore, the researchers will establish an analysis and calibration programme for the Simons Observatory in Chile, which hosts a new generation of superconducting detectors operating at extremely low temperatures.
Objective
Future experiments mapping the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are designed to revolutionize our understanding of the infant universe, the standard model of particle physics, structure formation, and the nature of dark matter. A key effort involves constraining or detecting the energy scale of cosmic inflation. A detection would mark a watershed moment in cosmology and high-energy physics, but in order to push constraints significantly past current limits, we need a dramatic change in instrument characterization capabilities — the primary focus of CMBeam.
To address this challenge, we propose to construct a novel cryogenic holography facility for the purposes of testing optical systems of current and future experiments observing at microwave frequencies (40–400 GHz). We will use this facility to develop never-before-seen optical measurements that are critical for the success of next-generation experiments studying the CMB. As part of this program, we will perform warm and cryogenic (4-Kelvin) holography measurements of a complete reimaging optics tube for the Simons Observatory Large Aperture Telescope, the flagship CMB experiment of this decade.
In a complementary effort, we will lead an ambitious analysis and calibration program for the Simons Observatory, which will deploy 60,000 cryogenically cooled detectors — three times the number of currently fielded detectors globally — in a site located 5,200 m above sea level in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Finally, we will develop algorithms that enable the design of novel freeform (asymmetric) optical systems that can greatly extend the scientific reach of future large-aperture telescopes such as upgraded version of the Simons Observatory and the CMB-S4 experiment.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-STG
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101 Reykjavik
Iceland
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