Papers by Paolo G Calisse
Sorption-cooled continuous miniature dilution refrigerator for astrophysical applications
Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IX, 2018
The Simons Observatory (SO) will make precise temperature and polarization measurements of the co... more The Simons Observatory (SO) will make precise temperature and polarization measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) using a set of telescopes which will cover angular scales between 1 arcminute and tens of degrees, contain over 60,000 detectors, and observe at frequencies between 27 and 270 GHz. SO will consist of a 6 m aperture telescope coupled to over 30,000 transition-edge sensor bolometers along with three 42 cm aperture refractive telescopes, coupled to an additional 30,000+ detectors, all of which will be located in the Atacama Desert at an altitude of 5190 m. The powerful combination of large and small apertures in a CMB observatory will allow us to sample a wide range of angular scales over a common survey area. SO will measure fundamental cosmological parameters of our universe, constrain primordial fluctuations, find high redshift clusters via the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, constrain properties of neutrinos, and trace the density and velocity of the matter in the universe over cosmic time. The complex set of technical and science requirements for this experiment has led to innovative instrumentation solutions which we will discuss. The large aperture telescope will couple to a cryogenic receiver that is 2.4 m in diameter and nearly 3 m long, creating a number of technical challenges. Concurrently, we are designing the array of cryogenic receivers housing the 42 cm aperture telescopes. We will discuss the sensor technology SO will use and we will give an overview of the drivers for and designs of the SO telescopes and receivers, with their cold optical components and detector arrays.
A balloon-borne study of diffuse far IR backgrounds
The mini-TIR (ARGO 1989) balloon IR telescope is described. After a brief summary of the scientif... more The mini-TIR (ARGO 1989) balloon IR telescope is described. After a brief summary of the scientific objectives, the main project constraints and solutions are presented, along with preliminary data from the transmediterranean flight of August 9, 1989, in which diffuse emission from the Galactic dust was observed at high Galactic latitudes. An upper limit for the anisotropy of the cosmic
Measurements of cosmic background radiation anisotropy at intermediate angular scale
The Astrophysical Journal, 1993
Results from an Antarctic ground-based experiment devoted to the search for fluctuations in the c... more Results from an Antarctic ground-based experiment devoted to the search for fluctuations in the cosmic background radiation (CBR) are presented. We have developed an off-axis telescope with a Gaussian beam response of 50 arcmin FWHM and with a beam-throw adjustable from 0 to 2 deg. The detector was a He-3 bolometer working at 0.35 K and operating at 2.2 mm wavelength. The data collected show evidence of fluctuations at a level of Delta-T(rms)/T = 4.5 x 10 exp -5 at an angular scale of 40 arcmin. The expected fluctuations obtained by extrapolating the COBE result down to this angular scale, in a cold dark matter scenario, are a factor 2.5 lower (1.8 x 10 exp -5). If residual systematic effects or cold galactic dust emission are responsible for the signal detected, our result should be considered as an upper limit to CBR anisotropy.
Experimental Astronomy, 1992
… on Space Terahertz …, Apr 1, 2009
Grimes, PK; Ade, PAR; Audley, MD; Baines, C.; Battye, RA; Brown, ML; Cabella, P.; Calisse, PG; Ch... more Grimes, PK; Ade, PAR; Audley, MD; Baines, C.; Battye, RA; Brown, ML; Cabella, P.; Calisse, PG; Challinor, AD; Diamond, PJ; Duncan, WD; Ferreira, P.; Gear, WK; Glowacka, D.; Goldie, DJ; Grainger, WF; Halpern, M.; Hargrave, P.; Haynes, V.; Hilton, GC; Irwin, KD; Johnson, BR; Jones, ME; Lasenby, AN; Leahy, PJ; Leech, J.; Lewis, S.; Maffei, B.; Martinis, L.; Mauskopf, P.; Melhuish, SJ; North, CE; O'Dea, D.; Parsley, SM; Piccirillo, L.; Pisano, G.; Reintsema, CD; Savini, G.; Sudiwala, R.; Sutton, D.; Taylor, AC; Teleberg, G.; Titterington, D.; Tsaneva, V.; ...
Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, 2008
We report observations of magnetic fields in Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs), obtained using the te... more We report observations of magnetic fields in Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs), obtained using the technique of submillimeter polarimetry. We used a polarimeter called SPARO [1, 2] that we built at Northwestern U. and that we use together with a 2-meter telescope at South Pole station. In comparison with submillimeter polarimeters that have been operated from larger telescopes on Mauna Kea, SPARO obtains relatively coarse angular resolution but much better sensitivity to fainter, more extended emission. We have also discussed these recent SPARO observations in a paper in the Astrophysical Journal [3].
Some Antarctic site testing results
Observing conditions at the South Pole have probably been better characterised than at any other ... more Observing conditions at the South Pole have probably been better characterised than at any other site on earth. The benefits are now well established, and include greatly reduced near- and mid-infrared sky brightness, improved atmospheric transmission, and a unique atmospheric turbulence profile with almost zero turbulence above the lowest 200 metres of the atmosphere. The site testing work is still in progress, with a view to better understanding the residual infrared sky emission and the nature of the atmospheric turbulence. Autonomous experiments are now also currently operating at Dome C. Plans are well advanced to extend these experiments, and to study even higher altitude sites such as Vostok and Dome A. In this paper, we report the recent results from UNSW. More comprehensive reviews can be found in the literature.
Sorption-cooled continuous miniature dilution refrigeration for astrophysical applications
SPIE Proceedings, 2016
A progress report is provided on the development of a tiltable continuous miniature dilution refr... more A progress report is provided on the development of a tiltable continuous miniature dilution refrigerator and associated 3He/4He sorption coolers. These systems are currently being developed to provide sub-Kelvin cooling of the bolometer arrays for several ground- and balloon-based experiments which aim to measure the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (QUBIC, LSPE and POLARBEAR-2). The novel tiltable miniaturised system benefits from a lack of external circulation pumps and a mechanically simple design. The condenser of the twin-pumped recirculating diluter is cooled continuously by two 3He/4He sorption coolers. The sorption pumps are operated by convective heat switches. The dilution unit features a thermally separated mixing chamber, still and step heat exchangers. The designs and analyses of both the sorption coolers and the diluter are reported; both systems have been manufactured and are presently under test.
Highlights of Astronomy, 2005
Analysis of sky images obtained from an automated experiment at Dome C, Antarctica, at 2-hourly i... more Analysis of sky images obtained from an automated experiment at Dome C, Antarctica, at 2-hourly intervals from February to November 2001 show cloud-free conditions 74% of the time. This augurs well for the prospects of future astronomical observatories at this site.
Dome C: the best accessible site on Earth for submillimetre astronomy
EAS Publications Series, 2009
We present preliminary results of the measurements of sky transparency conducted at Dome C during... more We present preliminary results of the measurements of sky transparency conducted at Dome C during the winter 2008. Using MOLIERE modeling, we estimate a low precipitable water vapour content above Concordia station, which is very promising for future submillimetre wave observations on the Antarctic Plateau.
2mm observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud at 5' resolution
Astronomy and Astrophysics
We report on new millimetric continuum observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) made from... more We report on new millimetric continuum observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) made from the Italian Base in Antarctica with a 2.6 metre diameter telescope. The telescope scanned two strips at constant declinations -69deg and -69.16deg across the entire source with an angular resolution of 5 arcminutes. The comparison of the mm wavelength observations with radio, CO and FIR measurements suggests that most of the observed mm emission is thermal and can be associated with very cold dust present in the molecular clouds of this Galaxy. The dust properties inferred from these observations are briefly discussed.
Dome C, Antarctica: The Best Accessible Sub-millimetre Site on the Planet?
Springer Proceedings in Physics, 1997
Submillimetre site testing at Dome C
A 3-field differential photometer for far infrared anisotropy measurements
Infrared Physics, 1989
ABSTRACT
The Antarctic Fibre-Optic Spectrometer (AFOS) is a 30cm Newtonian optical telescope that injects ... more The Antarctic Fibre-Optic Spectrometer (AFOS) is a 30cm Newtonian optical telescope that injects light through six 30m long optical fibres onto a 240−850nm spectrograph with a 1024 x 256 pixel CCD camera. The telescope is mounted on a dual telescope altitude-azimuth mount and has been designed to probe the suitability of the atmosphere above the South Pole for astronomy in the UV and visible wavelength regions. The instrument has observed a series of bright O and B stars during the austral winters of 2002 and 2003 to probe the UV cutoff wavelength, the auroral intensity and water vapour content in the atmosphere above the plateau. AFOS is the first completely automated telescope on the Antarctic Plateau. This paper reports on the results of the past two austral winters of remote observing with the telescope as well as the technical and software modifications required to improve the quality and automation of the observations. The atmospheric absorption bands in the 660−900nm regions of the spectra have been fitted with MODTRAN atmospheric models and used to calculate the precipitable water vapour above the South Pole. These data are then compared to those collected concurrently by radiosonde and by a 350µm submillimeter tipper at South Pole.
ALMA band 10 (787-950 GHz) first astronomical fringes
Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes V, 2014
ABSTRACT
ALMA array element astronomical verification
Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes IV, 2012
ABSTRACT The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) will consist of at least 54 twel... more ABSTRACT The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) will consist of at least 54 twelve-meter antennas and 12 seven-meter antennas operating as an aperture synthesis array in the (sub)millimeter wavelength range. The ALMA System Integration Science Team (SIST) is a group of scientists and data analysts whose primary task is to verify and characterize the astronomical performance of array elements as single dish and interferometric systems. The full set of tasks is required for the initial construction phase verification of every array element, and these can be divided roughly into fundamental antenna performance tests (verification of antenna surface accuracy, basic tracking, switching, and on-the-fly rastering) and astronomical radio verification tasks (radio pointing, focus, basic interferometry, and end-to-end spectroscopic verification). These activities occur both at the Operations Support Facility (just below 3000 m elevation) and at the Array Operations Site at 5000 m.
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 2004
We have developed a 350 μm radiometer to perform automated site testing in remote regions of Anta... more We have developed a 350 μm radiometer to perform automated site testing in remote regions of Antarctica. In summer 2000–2001 the instrument operated at Concordia, a new station under construction at Dome C on the Antarctic Plateau. We present the results, and compare them with the atmospheric opacity measured at the South Pole in the same five-week period. During these five weeks, observing conditions at Dome C were, on average, substantially better than those at the South Pole.
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 2004
We evaluate the effect that radome transparency has on atmospheric opacity measurements performed... more We evaluate the effect that radome transparency has on atmospheric opacity measurements performed by the skydip technique. We show that, except at rather high opacities, it is not sufficient to ignore losses in the radome (or ‘window’) during the data analysis and then subtract them from the derived atmospheric opacity. Perhaps surprisingly, unless radome transparency is correctly modelled, the atmosphere will appear to have a minimum opacity that is many times greater that the radome losses. Our conclusion is that some previous site studies may have significantly underestimated the quality of the best submilli-metre sites, and that the difference between these sites and poorer sites may be much greater than currently believed. We also show that part of the residual 857-GHz opacity at the best sites, currently ascribed to ‘dry-air opacity’, can in fact be just an artefact caused by not properly modelling the radome during the data analysis.
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Papers by Paolo G Calisse