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Abstract:

The Q/U Imaging ExperimenT (QUIET) employs coherent receivers at 43GHz and 95GHz, operating on the Chajnantor plateau in the Atacama Desert in Chile, to measure the anisotropy in the polarization of the CMB. QUIET primarily targets the B modes from primordial gravitational waves. The combination of these frequencies gives sensitivity to foreground contributions from diffuse Galactic synchrotron radiation. Between 2008 October and 2010 December, >10,000hours of data were collected, first with the 19-element 43GHz array (3458hours) and then with the 90-element 95GHz array. Each array observes the same four fields, selected for low foregrounds, together covering ~1000deg^2. This paper reports initial results from the 43GHz receiver which has an array sensitivity to CMB fluctuations of 69uK sqrt(s). The data were extensively studied with a large suite of null tests before the power spectra, determined with two independent pipelines, were examined. Analysis choices, including data selection, were modified until the null tests passed. Cross correlating maps with different telescope pointings is used to eliminate a bias. This paper reports the EE, BB and EB power spectra in the multipole range ell=25-475. With the exception of the lowest multipole bin for one of the fields, where a polarized foreground, consistent with Galactic synchrotron radiation, is detected with 3sigma significance, the E-mode spectrum is consistent with the LCDM model, confirming the only previous detection of the first acoustic peak. The B-mode spectrum is consistent with zero, leading to a measurement of the tensor-to-scalar ratio of r=0.35+1.06-0.87. The combination of a new time-stream double-demodulation technique, Mizuguchi-Dragone optics, natural sky rotation, and frequent boresight rotation leads to the lowest level of systematic contamination in the B-mode power so far reported, below the level of r=0.1

Abstract:

In this paper, we consider the problem of optimum multi-domain real-time beamforming and high-precision beam pattern positioning in application to very large wideband array antennas, particularly to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) aperture array antenna. We present a new structure for wideband space-frequency beamforming and beamsteering that maximizes detectability of cosmic signals over the array operational frequency range. © 2010 IEEE.

Abstract:

Gigahertz-frequency phased arrays that are integral to next-generation radio astronomy instruments, in particular the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, pose a significant signal processing challenge. We argue that the development of high-performance signal processing systems is critical, not only for the particular application to future radio astronomy instrumentation, but also to the entire field of ultra-wideband phased arrays in the gigahertz bandwidth range. To this end, we have developed a cycle-accurate simulator environment and programming language for a novel, massively multicore array processor, and prototyped on it representative digital frequency domain algorithms. The results of this analysis reveal beamforming as a low compute-to-I/O processing task, best suited to high- I/O-bandwidth, streaming signal processing systems. © 2010 IEEE.

Abstract:

Digital beamforming for the aperture array components of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) poses considerable computational challenges. We propose a hierarchical scheme aimed at tackling them and introduce OSKAR, a beamforming simulator which implements these ideas and algorithms. The simulator continues to be developed to investigate possible designs for the custom devices envisaged for phase 1 of the SKA construction. © 2010 IEEE.

Abstract:

In this paper, we report on calibration and polarisation performance of the 2PAD digital beamforming system, a pathfinder instrument for large-N, high-frequency phased-array radio instruments, in particular the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. We review the design of the digital system, and report on instrumental calibration approaches. © 2010 IEEE.