F. Scaramuzzi

Cosmology from MAXIMA-1, BOOMERANG, and COBE DMR Cosmic Microwave Background Observations

Recent results from BOOMERANG-98 and MAXIMA-1, taken together with COBE DMR, provide consistent and high signal-to-noise measurements of the cosmic microwave background power spectrum at spherical harmonic multipole bands over 2<l less similar to 800. Analysis of the combined data yields 68% (95%) confidence limits on the total density, Omega(tot) approximately 1.11+/-0.07 (+0.13)(-0.12), the baryon density, Omega(b)h(2) approximately 0.032(+0.005)(-0.004) (+0.009)(-0.008), and the scalar spectral tilt, n(s) approximately 1.01(+0.09)(-0.07) (+0.17)(-0.14). These data are consistent with inflationary initial conditions for structure formation. Taken together with other cosmological observations, they imply the existence of both nonbaryonic dark matter and dark energy in the Universe.

Multiple peaks in the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background: Significance and consequences for cosmology

Multiple Peaks in the Angular Power Spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background: Significance and Consequences for Cosmology arXiv:astro-ph/0105296 v1 17 May 2001 P. de Bernardis 1 , P.A.R. Ade 2 , J.J. Bock 3 , J.R. Bond 4 , J. Borrill 5 , A. Boscaleri 6 , K. Coble 7 , C.R. Contaldi 4 , B.P. Crill 8 , G. De Troia 1 , P. Farese 7 , K. Ganga 9 , M. Giacometti 1 , E. Hivon 9 , V.V. Hristov 8 , A. Iacoangeli 1 , A.H. Jaffe 10 , W.C. Jones 8 , A.E. Lange 8 , L. Martinis 11 , S. Masi 1 , P. Mason 8 , P.D. Mauskopf 12 , A. Melchiorri 13 , T. Montroy 7 , C.B. Netterfield 14 , E. Pascale 6 , F. Piacentini 1 , D. Pogosyan 4 , G. Polenta 1 , F. Pongetti 15 , S. Prunet 4 , G. Romeo 15 , J.E. Ruhl 7 , F. Scaramuzzi 11 Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita’ La Sapienza, Roma, Italy Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, UK Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, LBNL, Berkeley, CA, USA IROE-CNR, Firenze, Italy Dept. of Physics, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA IPAC, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA Department of Astronomy, Space Sciences Lab and Center for Particle Astrophysics, University of CA, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA ENEA, Frascati, Italy Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3YB, Wales, UK Nuclear and Astrophysics Laboratory, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford, OX 3RH, UK Depts. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toronto, Canada Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica, Roma, Italy ABSTRACT Three peaks and two dips have been detected in the power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background from the BOOMERANG experiment, at ∼ 210, 540, 840 and ∼ 420, 750, respec- tively. Using model-independent analyses, we find that all five features are statistically significant and we measure their location and amplitude. These are consistent with the adiabatic inflation- ary model. We also calculate the mean and variance of the peak and dip locations and amplitudes in a large 7-dimensional parameter space of such models, which gives good agreement with the model-independent estimates, and forecast where the next few peaks and dips should be found if the basic paradigm is correct. We test the robustness of our results by comparing Bayesian marginalization techniques on this space with likelihood maximization techniques applied to a sec- ond 7-dimensional cosmological parameter space, using an independent computational pipeline, and find excellent agreement: Ω tot = 1.02 +0.06 vs. 1.04±0.05, Ω b h 2 = 0.022 −0.003 vs. 0.019 +0.005 , and n s = 0.96 −0.09 vs. 0.90±0.08. The deviation in primordial spectral index n s is a consequence of the strong correlation with the optical depth. Subject headings: Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy, Cosmology

Measurement of a Peak in the Cosmic Microwave Background Power Spectrum from the North American Test Flight of Boomerang

We describe a measurement of the angular power spectrum of anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at scales of 0&fdg;3 to 5 degrees from the North American test flight of the Boomerang experiment. Boomerang is a balloon-borne telescope with a bolometric receiver designed to map CMB anisotropies on a long-duration balloon flight. During a 6 hr test flight of a prototype system in 1997, we mapped more than 200 deg(2) at high Galactic latitudes in two bands centered at 90 and 150 GHz with a resolution of 26&arcmin; and 16&farcm;5 FWHM, respectively. Analysis of the maps gives a power spectrum with a peak at angular scales of 1 degrees with an amplitude 70 µK(CMB).

The BOOMERanG experiment and the curvature of the Universe

We describe the BOOMERanG experiment and its main result, i.e. the measurement of the large scale curvature of the Universe. BOOMERanG is a balloon-borne microwave telescope with sensitive cryogenic detectors. BOOMERanG has measured the angular distribution of the Cosmic Microwave Background on ∼ 3% of the sky, with a resolution of ∼ 10 arcmin and a sensitivity of ∼ 20μK per pixel. The resulting image is dominated by hot and cold spots with rms fluctuations ∼ 80μK and typical size of ∼ 1o. The detailed angular power spectrum of the image features three peaks and two dips at l = (213−13+10), (541−32+20), (845−25+12) and l = (416−12+22), (750−750+20), respectively. Such very characteristic spectrum can be explained assuming that the detected structures are the result of acoustic oscillations in the primeval plasma. In this framework, the measured pattern constrains the density parameter Ω to be 0.85 < Ω < 1.1 (95% confidence interval). Other cosmological parameters, like the spectral index of initial density fluctuations, the density parameter for baryons, dark matter and dark energy, are detected or constrained by the BOOMERanG measurements and by other recent CMB anisotropy experiments. When combined with other cosmological observations, these results depict a new, consistent, cosmological scenario.

Emission of neutrons as a consequence of titanium-deuterium interaction

SummaryThe interaction of deuterium gas with titanium has produced a flow of neutrons in the experiment reported here. This seems to show that it is not necessary to use electrolysis in order to obtain a low-temperature fusion reaction between deuterium nuclei. The experiment confirms also that nonequilibrium conditions are necessary in order to produce such a phenomenon.

The BOOMERANG North America Instrument: A Balloon-borne Bolometric Radiometer Optimized for Measurements of Cosmic Background Radiation Anisotropies from 0.°3 to 4°

We describe the BOOMERANG North America instrument, a balloon-borne bolometric radiometer designed to map the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation with 0.3degrees resolution over a significant portion of the sky. This receiver employs new technologies in bolometers, readout electronics, millimeter-wave optics and filters, cryogenics, scan, and attitude reconstruction. All these subsystems are described in detail in this paper. The system has been fully calibrated in flight using a variety of techniques, which are described and compared. Using this system, we have obtained a measurement of the first peak in the CMB angular power spectrum in a single, few hour long balloon flight. The instrument described here was a prototype of the BOOMERANG Long Duration Balloon experiment.

A long duration cryostat suitable for balloon borne photometry

Abstract We describe a 4 He cryostat suitable for cooling a large (about 50 l in volume) multiband bolometric photometer for mm-waves. The cryostat features two large optical windows and a hold time longer than 2 weeks. The long hold time has been obtained using a 20 K vapour cooled shield for the liquid helium tank and superinsulation for the nitrogen tank. The tanks are supported by kevlar cords. The cryostat has been optimized for operation on long duration stratospheric balloon flights, and has been tested successfully at ground level and on two short balloon flights.

MITO: the 2.6 m millimetre telescope at Testa Grigia

Abstract 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

Mapping the CMB sky: The BOOMERanG experiment

We describe the BOOMERanG experiment, a stratospheric balloon telescope intended to measure the Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy at angular scales between a few degrees and ten arcminutes. The experiment has been optimized for a long duration (7 to 14 days) flight circumnavigating Antarctica at the end of 1998. A test flight was performed on 30 August 1997 in Texas. The level of performance achieved in the test flight was satisfactory and compatible with the requirements for the long duration flight.

High‐speed repeating hydrogen pellet injector for long‐pulse magnetic confinement fusion experiments

The projected fueling requirements of future magnetic confinement fusion devices [e.g., the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)] indicate the need for a flexible plasma fueling capability, including both gas puffing and low‐ and high‐speed pellet injection. Conventional injectors, based on single‐stage pneumatic guns or centrifuges, can reliably provide frozen pellets (1‐ to 6‐mm‐diam sizes) at speeds up to 1.3 km/s and at suitable repetition rates (1 to 10 Hz or greater). Injectors based on two‐stage pneumatic guns and ‘‘in situ’’ condensation of hydrogen pellets can reliably achieve velocities over 3 km/s; however, they are not suitable for long‐pulse repetitive operations. An experiment in collaboration between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and ENEA Frascati is under way to demonstrate the feasibility of a high‐speed (≳2 km/s) repeating (∼1 Hz) pneumatic pellet injector for long‐pulse operation. A test facility has been assembled at ORNL, combining a Frascati repeating two‐st...