Advances in Microwave and Sub-mm Astronomical Instrumentation and Analysis
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Authors
Bagchi, Mayukh
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Star Formation , Astronomical Instrumentation , Radio Astronomy
Alternative Title
Abstract
Mm and sub-mm wavelengths are crucial for studying the process of star formation and probing the hot matter around supermassive black holes, as these environments tend to be optically thick at visible and near-IR wavelengths. The atmosphere plays an important role in mm and sub-mm astronomy as it can absorb, and scatter radiation. Also, varying atmospheric emission provides additional noise. High-resolution, sensitive instruments are required to probe distant objects with small spatial scales (like star-forming cores). In this work, we first test whether sub-mm polarized dust emission can be used to trace magnetic fields in cores by analyzing the polarized thermal dust emissions from starless, prestellar, and protostellar cores. Using stacking analysis, we find that cores that have a bright 70 um source show a higher polarized intensity signal when stacked, compared to ones that do not. This could indicate that cores that have luminous internal objects may produce polarized emissions that can be used to study their magnetic fields. However, we would need a larger sample of cores at different evolutionary stages to statistically determine the correlation between core properties and polarization efficiency. This is one of the primary science goals for upcoming telescopes, such as the CCAT. We use atmospheric models to investigate the sensitivity of the CCAT's Prime-Cam instrument to changing atmospheric loads. We find that a tone-tracking algorithm will be required to prevent the Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) from saturating. We also find a lower detector responsivity value would be needed for the 850 GHz array compared to 250 and 350 GHz arrays. Finally, we push to an even higher resolution by designing the Balloon-borne VLBI Experiment (BVEX). We lay out a plan for a complete backend readout and data storage system using the latest Radio Frequency System on Chip (RFSoC) boards and show a successfully deployed fully working spectrometer. BVEX will be a pathfinder mission showing the possibility of a balloon-borne VLBI station that would be part of a future high-frequency VLBI network.
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Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
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Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International