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The PrimevAl Structure Telescope (PAST)

The PrimevAl Structure Telescope (PAST). Image the end of the dark ages Determine the birthdate of the first stars Study the evolution of dark energy via weak lensing tomography. IAU 2003, Sydney Jeff Peterson and Ue-Li Pen. Pre-WMAP Ionization History. CMB last scattering. Hi z QSOs.

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The PrimevAl Structure Telescope (PAST)

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  1. The PrimevAl Structure Telescope (PAST) • Image the end of the dark ages • Determine the birthdate of the first stars • Study the evolution of dark energy via weak lensing tomography IAU 2003, Sydney Jeff Peterson and Ue-Li Pen

  2. Pre-WMAP Ionization History CMB last scattering Hi z QSOs

  3. Post-WMAP ionization history PAST

  4. Nuclear spin-flip transisiton of Hydrogen • Cross section small—but hydrogen is abundant 1420 MHz

  5. Simulated VHF sky images Furlanetto, et.al2003

  6. Foreground: Galactic Synchrotron 408 MHz

  7. Synchrotron Spectrum

  8. PAST: medium fill factor array • Rough Parameters (100MHz) • Total antennae 3000 • Effective Elements 10 • Effective area 9000 m^2 • Sky temperature 170 K • Imaging field of view 1 sq deg • Angular resolution 3 arc minutes • Frequency Range 40 - 210 MHz • Redshift range 6 - 35 • Frequency resolution 100 kHz • Spatial resolution 6 Mpc • Mapping sensitivity 22 mK/sqrt(day)

  9. Timing: Solar minimum 2006

  10. South Pole Riometer has been operating at 38 and 50 MHz for 10 years. South Pole is the quietest VHF site of any tested

  11. Why South Pole? • No Television or FM stations • Very Quiet--No thunderstorms for 1000 Km • Stable physical environment—no rabbits • 24hr/ day integrations • Infrastructure already installed • Internet…power…berthing…food…transport

  12. Log spiral antennaHigh efficiency may be overkill

  13. Next Steps • Test Antenna Prototype at Green Bank • Use Digital Oscilloscope to sample 4 antenna array. • Design FPGA correlator • http://astrophysics.phys.cmu.edu/~jbp/past6.pdf

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