Feasibility of cosmic microwave background observations using radiometers based on whispering gallery mode resonators

• Published in: New astronomy 2020-07, Vol.78, p.101367, Article 101367
• Main Authors: De Miguel-Hernández, Javier, Hoyland, Roger J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astrophysics; CMB detectors; CMB experiments; CMB polarisation; Photonics
• ISSN: 1384-1076; 1384-1092
• DOI: 10.1016/j.newast.2020.101367

•The first approach to WGM on astronomy applications.•Article shows the sensitivity noise figure of the WGM radiometers.•Some novel examples of possible applications are discussed, including axion detection. The fundamentals of the whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators are well established in the literature, with several successful proof-of-concept experiments. One remarkable benefit of this technology is the room-temperature operation. This characteristic could be used to build a new generation of radiometers that do not need to be cooled down to cryogenic temperatures to reach high sensitivities. In this article, a study of the viability of technological transfer is undertaken, beginning with a brief review of the theoretical background that will be applied and leading to a proposal for a novel spectro-polarimeter design. Simulations for a radiometer based on WGM resonance are analyzed and compared with state-of-the-art coherent receivers. The results are then discussed, finding that although promising, WGM technology needs R&D in several directions in order to be competitive, whose are suggested by the authors with the idea of inspiring the work of the researchers in the field towards a new direction or approach.