A deeper focus on the primordial universe Develoment of a metamaterial-based lenslet coupled with kinetic inductance detectors for cosmology

Gascard, Thomas 2023. A deeper focus on the primordial universe Develoment of a metamaterial-based lenslet coupled with kinetic inductance detectors for cosmology. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Modern cosmology is seeking to understand the mechanisms behind the Universe birth and evolution, dynamics at limiting cases of both high energy quantum physics and the theory of gravitation. Since the observation of the Cosmic Microwave Background, primordial light revealed at the Universe’s creation, a technological push was made towards the precise detection of its subtle variations, especially with regards to its polarisation states. Directly or not, the scientific impact resulting from this effort is strong. Radio-antennas, optical component at the base of cosmology telescopes, are commonly used for telecommunication purposes in cars, phones, computers, etc. The detectors used in instruments for Cosmic Microwave Background observations are based on superconductors, ground technology for Magnetic Resonance Imaging or quantum-computer qubits. Metamaterials, a recent artificial media tunable to shape the light as desired, enabled microscopy at nanometric scales for instance. This thesis presents efforts to prove the concept of the MetaL, a focal optics made of metamaterial surfaces. Details on the Cosmic Microwave Background current knowledge and considerations on future experiments are discussed. Compliance with the requirements dressed for Cosmic Microwave Background instrumentation is partly demonstrated through a full experimental characterisation of a prototyped device. Excellent optical performances, similar to an existing optics counterpart, are demonstrated in a warm setup. Further plans and preliminary results to prove the coupling with a detecting element cold are laid out.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Physics and Astronomy
Subjects:	Q Science > QC Physics
Uncontrolled Keywords:	CMB, Cosmology, Instrumentation, Microwaves, Millimeter/sub-millimeter, Metamaterials, Lens, Focal Plane, Low Temperature, Beam, Kinetic Inductance Detectors, Cryogenics,
Funders:	STFC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 January 2024
Last Modified:	23 Jan 2024 16:18
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/165767

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