Event Title
A Measurement Procedure to Optimize Microwave Radiometer Beam Profile
Location
Science Center, Bent Corridor
Start Date
10-27-2017 6:40 PM
End Date
10-27-2017 7:20 PM
Research Program
Intership at Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Poster Number
56
Abstract
A low-cost radiometer, operating at 11.45 GHz, is used for beam mapping in a Harvard University advanced undergraduate astrophysics lab course to measure the relic radiation from the Big Bang, known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). To verify and improve upon the radiometer as well as to assess students’ ability to make an accurate and precise instrument, we performed quantitative and qualitative analyses of the effects of different antenna designs on the main beam and sidelobe responses and further refined the process to make archival representations of the beam pattern. By meticulously detailing the methodology of beam mapping, our efforts can be disseminated to other educational institutions so that the CMB detection experiment – which has successfully replicated the Nobel Prize-winning detection of the CMB originally made by Penzias & Wilson (1965) – can be more easily conducted in a classroom setting.
Recommended Citation
Wolfson, Talia, "A Measurement Procedure to Optimize Microwave Radiometer Beam Profile" (2017). Celebration of Undergraduate Research. 60.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/cour/2017/posters/60
Major
Physics
Project Mentor(s)
James Cornelison, Astronomy, Harvard University
John Kovac, Robert Kimberk and Kirit Karkare, Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Document Type
Poster
A Measurement Procedure to Optimize Microwave Radiometer Beam Profile
Science Center, Bent Corridor
A low-cost radiometer, operating at 11.45 GHz, is used for beam mapping in a Harvard University advanced undergraduate astrophysics lab course to measure the relic radiation from the Big Bang, known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). To verify and improve upon the radiometer as well as to assess students’ ability to make an accurate and precise instrument, we performed quantitative and qualitative analyses of the effects of different antenna designs on the main beam and sidelobe responses and further refined the process to make archival representations of the beam pattern. By meticulously detailing the methodology of beam mapping, our efforts can be disseminated to other educational institutions so that the CMB detection experiment – which has successfully replicated the Nobel Prize-winning detection of the CMB originally made by Penzias & Wilson (1965) – can be more easily conducted in a classroom setting.
