Project Title

Imaging the beginning of time from the South Pole: Completing the BICEP array survey

Summary

Event Number:
A-149-S
NSF / OPP Award 2220444

Program Director:
Dr. Vladimir Papitashvili

ASC POC/Implementer:
Paul Sullivan / Sheryl Seagraves / Leah Street

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Clement Pryke
pryke@physics.umn.edu
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Project Web Site:
http://bicepkeck.org

Location

Supporting Stations: South Pole Station
Research Locations: South Pole Station: Dark Sector Laboratory, Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory

Description

This project will continue the BICEP/Keck program of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization observations by advancing the phased upgrade from Keck Array to BICEP Array in parallel with continuing observations with BICEP3. The goal is to extend the search for inflationary gravitational waves (IGW) by making deep observations at frequencies ranging from 30 to 270 GHz, in order to constrain the contributions of galactic dust and synchrotron foreground emission.

Following the successful pattern by which the SPUD program became Keck Array, two additional BICEP Array receivers are currently being integrated by our teams at Caltech, Harvard and Stanford. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the deployment timeline of these receivers.

Field Season Overview

On-site fieldwork for the upcoming season includes: 1) Deployment, characterization, and installation of the third BICEP Array receiver (BA4), and retrograde of the Keck receiver replaced by BA4. 2) Maintenance and minor upgrades to the ongoing BICEP3, BA1, BA2 and Keck receivers. 3) Winterover training. 4) Continued observations with BICEP3 and BICEP Array during the 2025 winter season. 5) Standard on-mount calibration activities with the BICEP3 and BICEP Array receivers.

Deploying Team Members