Review of radio frequency interference and potential impacts on the CMB-S4 cosmic microwave background survey

Darcy R. Barron; Amy N. Bender; Ian E. Birdwell; John E. Carlstrom; Jacques Delabrouille; Sam Guns; John Kovac; Charles R. Lawrence; Scott Paine; Nathan Whitehorn

doi:10.1117/12.2629651

31 August 2022 Review of radio frequency interference and potential impacts on the CMB-S4 cosmic microwave background survey

Darcy R. Barron, Amy N. Bender, Ian E. Birdwell, John E. Carlstrom, Jacques Delabrouille, Sam Guns, John Kovac, Charles R. Lawrence, Scott Paine, Nathan Whitehorn

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12190, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy XI; 1219002 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629651
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Abstract

CMB-S4 will map the cosmic microwave background to unprecedented precision, while simultaneously surveying the millimeter-wave time-domain sky, in order to advance our understanding of cosmology and the universe. CMB-S4 will observe from two sites, the South Pole and the Atacama Desert of Chile. A combination of small- and large-aperture telescopes with hundreds of thousands of polarization-sensitive detectors will observe in several frequency bands from 20–300 GHz, surveying more than 50% of the sky to arcminute resolution with unprecedented sensitivity. CMB-S4 seeks to make a dramatic leap in sensitivity while observing across a broad range of largely unprotected spectrum which is increasingly being utilized for terrestrial and satellite transmissions. Fundamental aspects of CMB instrument technology leave them vulnerable to radio frequency interference (RFI) across a wide range of frequencies, including frequencies outside of their observing bands. Ground-based CMB instruments achieve their extraordinary sensitivities by deploying large focal planes of superconducting bolometers to extremely dry, high-altitude sites, with large fractional bandwidths, wide fields of view, and years of integration time. Suitable observing sites have historically offered significant protection from RFI, both naturally through their extremely remote locations as well as through restrictions on local emissions. Since the coupling mechanisms are complex, “safe” levels or frequencies of emission that would not interfere with CMB measurements cannot always be determined through straightforward calculations. We discuss models of interference for various types of RFI relevant to CMB-S4, mitigation strategies, and the potential impacts on survey sensitivity.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Darcy R. Barron, Amy N. Bender, Ian E. Birdwell, John E. Carlstrom, Jacques Delabrouille, Sam Guns, John Kovac, Charles R. Lawrence, Scott Paine, and Nathan Whitehorn "Review of radio frequency interference and potential impacts on the CMB-S4 cosmic microwave background survey", Proc. SPIE 12190, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy XI, 1219002 (31 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629651

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available