A Survey of High and Low Galactic Latitude Polarization at a Wavelength of Two Centimeters

University Of Miami, Coral Gables FL

Investigators

Abstract

AST-0206241 Gunderson, Joshua O. This program will build a new survey instrument to measure galactic polarization at wavelengths near two centimeters. The Ku-band Polarization Identifier (KUPID) will integrate a very low noise, correlation polarimeter onto the Crawford Hill seven meter, millimeter-wave antenna. The primary components of the polarimeter will be built at the University of Miami and other key components, including the microwave horn and data acquisition system will be built at the University of Chicago and Princeton University. This project will measure the Q and U Stokes parameters in regions near the north celestial pole, in regions of low galactic contamination, and in regions near the galactic plane. The goals of this survey are multifold and span the studies of the interstellar medium to cosmology. The primary goals are to: (1) Measure the structure of both high and low galactic latitude synchrotron radiation; (2) Identify the source of the "anomalous emission" that is predicted to peak near a wavelength of two centimeters; (3) Measure cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization in the event that the galactic foregrounds are subdominant; (4) Perform complementary, follow-up surveys of interesting regions identified by the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) and other Cosmic Microwave Background polarization surveys. ***