BICEP2 and the Keck Array: Probing Inflationary Physics from the South Pole
by
Martin Lueker
(California Institute of Technology)
→
US/Central
F-108 (ANL, Bldg. 362)
F-108
ANL, Bldg. 362
Description
Most of the surprising coincidences in contemporary cosmology are theoretically explained by invoking a period of extremely rapid inflation
during the first 10^-36 seconds. This theory predicts a stochastic
background of gravitational waves, which should in turn manifest themselves as unique B-mode distortions in the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background. However such a measurement would require a polarization sensitivity at the level of about 10-100nK. Such a measurement represents a challenge in both raw instrument sensitivity and
control of polarization systematics. In this talk I will discuss BICEP2
and the Keck Array, a series of high-precision millimeter-wavelength polarimeters continuing the search for inflationary B-modes from the South
Pole. Through a mixture of cutting-edge detector designs and novel
analysis techniques, these instruments are well-poised to lead the search for the first direct evidence of inflation.