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QUIET is being built to search for polarization in the CMB. The spatial distribution of polarization contains important information about cosmological parameters and about the origin of temperature anisotropies in the CMB. Although the signal is tiny (1-10% of the temperature fluctuations) the scientific rewards are large. A measurement of polarization has the potential to distinguish between inflationary models by measuring the amount of primordial gravitational waves that are a relic of the inflationary epoch.
QUIET will utilize large-format arrays of HEMT-based radiometers to obtain unprecedented sensitivity to CMB fluctuations. There will be several telescopes, as shown in the photograph below right, located on the CBI mount (below middle) on the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes (below left). Stanford is currently building the first of these telescopes.
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| The Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes is one of the best sites in the world for millimeter wavelength astronomy |
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The Cosmic Background Imager (CBI) is located at this site |
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The QUIET receivers will be mounted on three 2m telescopes that will eventually replace the CBI array. Stanford is building the first of these telescopes. |
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Opportunities for graduate students:
We are looking for Stanford graduate students to participate in instrumentation building, or modeling the instrument performance, or both. This student would then have access to data when the instrument is fielded (late 2006). Note, this opportunity is limited to Stanford Physics or Applied Physics students only
For more information on Quiet:
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