A path toward the detection of CMB B-mode polarization from primordial gravitational waves

by Dr Akito Kusaka (Princeton U.)

Thursday Aug 29, 2013, 3:30 PM → 4:30 PM Pacific/Honolulu

112 (Watanabe Hall)

Cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization is the ultimate probe of primordial gravity waves in the early universe, via the B-mode (or parity odd) signal, on degree angular scales. A detection of such a signal would provide strong evidence of the inflation scenario and constitute the first observational connection between quantum physics and gravity. In this talk, I will review the physics of the CMB B-mode polarization and the experimental approaches toward the detection of the primordial B-mode signal, introducing three experiments with very different instrumental architecture: QUIET, ABS, and MuSE. The diverse approach in the instrument development is critically important in order to detect the subtle B-mode signal with the instrumental systematics and the galactic foregrounds well understood.