Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory Research Articles

Atmospheric monitoring in the millimetre and submillimetre bands for cosmological observations: CASPER2

Cosmological observations from ground at millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths are affected by atmospheric absorption and consequent emission. The low and high frequency (sky noise) fluctuations of atmospheric performance imply careful observational strategies and/or instrument technical solutions. Measurements of atmospheric emission spectra are necessary for accurate calibration procedures as well as for site testing statistics. CASPER2, an instrument to explore the 90-450 GHz (3-15 1/cm) spectral region, was developed and verified its operation in the Alps. A Martin-Puplett Interferometer (MPI) operates comparing sky radiation, coming from a field of view (fov) of 28 arcminutes (FWHM) collected by a 62-cm in diameter Pressman-Camichel telescope, with a reference source. The two output ports of the interferometer are detected by two bolometers cooled down to 300 mK inside a wet cryostat. Three different and complementary interferometric techniques can be performed with CASPER2: Amplitude Modulation (AM), Fast-Scan (FS) and Phase Modulation (PM). An altazimuthal mount allows the sky pointing, possibly co-alligned to the optical axis of the 2.6-m in diameter telescope of MITO (Millimetre and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory, Italy). Optimal timescale to average acquired spectra is inferred by Allan variance analysis at 5 fiducial frequencies. We present the motivation for and design of the atmospheric spectrometer CASPER2. The adopted procedure to calibrate the instrument and preliminary performance of the instrument are described. Instrument capabilities were checked during the summer observational campaign at MITO in July 2010 by measuring atmospheric emission spectra with the three different procedures.

A study of the galaxy redshift distribution towards the cosmic microwave background cold spot in the Corona Borealis supercluster

We present a study of the spatial and redshift distributions of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) galaxies toward the position of CrB-H, a very deep and extended decrement in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), located within the Corona Borealis supercluster (CrB-SC). It was found in a survey with the Very Small Array (VSA) interferometer at 33 GHz, with a peak negative brightness temperature of -230 muK, and deviates 4.4-sigma from the Gaussian CMB (G\'enova-Santos et al.). Observations with the Millimeter and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory (MITO) suggested that 25$^+21_-18% of this decrement may be caused by the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (tSZ) effect (Battistelli et al.). Here we investigate whether the galaxy distribution could be tracing either a previously unnoticed galaxy cluster or a Warm/Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM) filament that could build up this tSZ effect. We find that the projected density of galaxies outside Abell clusters and with redshifts 0.05<z<0.12 at the position of CrB-H is the highest in the area encompassed by the CrB-SC. Most of these galaxies are located around redshifts z=0.07 and z=0.11, but no clear connection in the form of a filamentary structure is appreciable in between. While the galaxy distribution at z=0.07 is sparse, we find evidence at z=0.11 of a galaxy group or a low-mass galaxy cluster. We estimate that this structure could produce a tSZ effect of ~ -18 muK. The remaining VSA signal of ~ -212 muK is still a significant 4.1-sigma deviation from the Gaussian CMB. However, the MITO error bar allows for a larger tSZ effect, which could be produced by galaxy clusters or superclusters beyond the sensitivity of the SDSS. Contributions from other possible secondary anisotropies associated with these structures are also discussed.

Site-testing and continuous atmospheric monitoring at mm wavelength band with CASPER 2

Ground-based cosmological observations need a detailed knowledge about atmospheric transmission. A continuous monitoring of the transmission in the FIR/mm wavelength range is needed mainly due to H 2 O high frequency variations along the line of sight of a telescope. CASPER 2 ( Concordia Atmospheric Spectroscopy of Emitted Radiation ) is a spectrometer devoted to measurements of atmospheric emission in the millimetric region (4–12 cm -1 , 120–360 GHz) with a spectral resolution of 0.2 cm -1 . The instrument allows a continuous monitoring of the atmospheric transmission of the same sky region explored with MITO (Millimeter and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory, 3480 m asl, Italy) telescope, during cosmological observations.

Millimeter Observation of the SZ Effect in the Corona Borealis Supercluster

We have observed the Corona Borealis supercluster with the Millimeter and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory (MITO), located in the Italian Alps, at 143, 214, 272, and 353 GHz. We present a description of the measurements, data analysis, and results of the observations together with a comparison with observations performed at 33 GHz with the Very Small Array (VSA) interferometer situated at the Teide Observatory (Tenerife, Spain). Observations have been made in the direction of the supercluster toward a cosmic microwave background (CMB) cold spot previously detected in a VSA temperature map. Observational strategy and data analysis are described in detail, explaining the procedures used to disentangle primary and secondary anisotropies in the resulting maps. From a first level of data analysis, we find evidence in MITO data of primary anisotropy but still with room for the presence of secondary anisotropy, especially when VSA results are included. With a second level of data analysis using map making and the maximum entropy method, we claim a weak detection of a faint signal compatible with a SZ effect, characterized at most by a Comptonization parameter y = (7.8) × 10-6 68% CL. The low level of confidence in the presence of a SZ signal invites us to study this sky region with higher sensitivity and angular resolution experiments such as the already-planned upgraded versions of VSA and MITO.

Absolute calibration and beam reconstruction of MITO(a ground-based instrument in the millimetric region)

An efficient sky data reconstruction derives from a precise characterization of the observing instrument. Here we describe the reconstruction of performances of a single-pixel 4-band photometer installed at MITO (Millimeter and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory) focal plane. The strategy of differential sky observations at millimeter wavelengths, by scanning the field of view at constant elevation wobbling the subreflector, induces a good knowledge of beam profile and beam-throw amplitude, allowing efficient data recovery. The problems that arise estimating the detectors throughput by drift scanning on planets are shown. Atmospheric transmission, monitored by skydip technique, is considered for deriving final responsivities for the 4 channels using planets as primary calibrators.

Calibration and first light of the Diabolo photometer at the Millimetre and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory

We have designed and built a large-throughput dual channel photometer, Diabolo. This photometer is dedicated to the observation of millimetre continuum diffuse sources, and in particular, of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect and of anisotropies of the 3K background. We describe the optical layout and filtering system of the instrument, which uses two bolometric detectors for simultaneous observations in two frequency channels at 1.2 and 2.1 mm. The bolometers are cooled to a working temperature of 0.1 K provided by a compact dilution cryostat. The photometric and angular responses of the instrument are measured in the laboratory. First astronomical light was detected in March 1995 at the focus of the new Millimetre and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory (MITO) Telescope. The established sensitivity of the system is of 7 mK_RJ s^1/2$. For a typical map of at least 10 beams, with one hour of integration per beam, one can achieve the rms values of y_SZ ~ 7 10^-5 and the 3K background anisotropy Delta T/T ~ 7 10^-5, in winter conditions. We also report on a novel bolometer AC readout circuit which allows for the first time total power measurements on the sky. This technique alleviates (but does not forbid) the use of chopping with a secondary mirror. This technique and the dilution fridge concept will be used in future scan--modulated space instrument like the ESA Planck mission project.

MITO: the 2.6 m millimetre telescope at Testa Grigia

We describe a new ground based telescope dedicated to millimetre cosmological research: MITO, Millimetre and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory. The site and all the instrumental subsystems of the telescope have been chosen to perform high sensitivity measurements for wavelengths ranging from 300 micron to 2 millimetre. The possibility of detecting fluctuations of the Cosmic Microwave Background has been explored for some observational strategies. F. Melchiorri

High-performance wobbling subreflector for the Millimetre and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory 26-m telescope

The Millimetre and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory 2.6-m Cassegrain telescope has been designed to allow high-sensitivity observations in the millimeter spectral range. For this purpose, in order to reduce unwanted contributions from local foregrounds, we adopted a sky-chopping technique, by wobbling the telescope subreflector. We describe the design and performance of the wobbling system, which can endure external forced two and three fields square-wave modulation and includes features such as high frequency, high amplitude, high duty cycle, low microphonics, and high stability.

A far infrared photometer for characterization of stratospheric perturbations

The sensitivity of the new generation of He-3 bolometers is such that it is possible to detect tiny atmospheric perturbations occurring at high altitude by means of a submillimetric photometer: an excess of 1% along one km of the stratosphere for H 2O vapour is detectable up to 10 km of altitude, while the same excess for O 2 is detectable up to 20 km and up to 35 km in the case of Ozone. In the present paper we describe a multi-band photometer operating at the focal plane of MITO (Millimeter and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory), capable of discriminating atmospheric perturbations in altitude and in chemical composition. The instrument is devoted to the study of the dynamics of the upper atmosphere in a long range program of far infrared observations.

MITO: a procedure for CBA measurements and a search for cosmic strings

MITO (Millimetric and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory) is a 3 m telescope dedicated to the study of Cosmic Background Anisotropies. It is located at 3500 m above sea-level at Plateau Rosa, Cervinia. We describe the Observatory and discuss two on-going research programs: a clearning procedure in order to remove galactic dust signals from cosmological data and a search for cosmic strings toward double-lensed quasars. Both the programs will be carried out by means of a He-3 photometer operating at the frequencies of 5, 10, 12, 30 cm−1.