QUBIC: The Q & U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology

• Published in: Journal of low temperature physics 2020-04, Vol.199 (1-2), p.482-490
• Main Authors: Battistelli, E. S., Ade, P., Alberro, J. G., Arnaldi, L. H., Banfi, S., Battaglia, P., Baù, A., Bélier, B., Bennett, D., Bergé, L., Bernard, J.-Ph, Bersanelli, M., Bigot-Sazy, M.-A., Bleurvacq, N., Bonaparte, J., Bonis, J., Bunn, E., Burke, D., Buzi, D., Buzzelli, A., Chapron, C., Charlassier, R., Columbro, F., Coppi, G., D’Alessandro, G., De Gasperis, G., De Leo, M., Dheilly, S., Dumoulin, L., Etchegoyen, A., Fasciszewski, A., Ferreyro, L. P., Franceschet, C., García, B., Redondo, M. E. García, Gayer, D., Gervasi, M., Gilles, V., Berisso, M. Gómez, González, M., Gradziel, M., Hamilton, J.-Ch, Haynes, V., Henrot-Versillé, S., Hoang, D. T., Incardona, F., Jules, E., Kaplan, J., Korotkov, A., Kristukat, C., Lamagna, L., Loucatos, S., Louis, T., Luterstein, R., Maffei, B., Marnieros, S., Marty, W., Masi, S., Mattei, A., May, A., Mennella, A., Montier, L., Mousset, L., Mundo, L. M., Murphy, J. A., Murphy, J. D., Nati, F., Olivieri, E., Oriol, C., O’Sullivan, C., Paiella, A., Pajot, F., Passerini, A., Pastoriza, H., Pelosi, A., Perciballi, M., Pezzotta, F., Piat, M., Platino, M., Polenta, G., Prêle, D., Rambaud, D., Ringegni, P., Schillaci, A., Scóccola, C., Scully, S., Stankowiak, G., Suarez, F., Tartari, A., Thermeau, J.-P., Timbie, P., Tristram, M., Tucker, C., Tucker, G., Vittorio, N., Voisin, F., Watson, B., Wicek, F., Zannoni, M., Zullo, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Big Bang theory; Bolometers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Cosmic microwave background; Cosmology; Low temperature physics; Magnetic Materials; Magnetism; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Polarization; Sensitivity
• ISSN: 0022-2291; 1573-7357
• DOI: 10.1007/s10909-020-02370-0

The Q & U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology, QUBIC, is an innovative experiment designed to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background and in particular the signature left therein by the inflationary expansion of the Universe. The expected signal is extremely faint; thus, extreme sensitivity and systematic control are necessary in order to attempt this measurement. QUBIC addresses these requirements using an innovative approach combining the sensitivity of transition-edge sensor cryogenic bolometers, with the deep control of systematics characteristic of interferometers. This makes QUBIC unique with respect to others' classical imagers experiments devoted to the CMB polarization. In this contribution, we report a description of the QUBIC instrument including recent achievements and the demonstration of the bolometric interferometry performed in laboratory. QUBIC will be deployed at the observation site in Alto Chorrillos, in Argentina, at the end of 2019.