Cosmic Microwave Background Polarimetry

Recent cosmological results have indicated that the universe may have undergone a period of rapid accelerated expansion within its first fraction of a second. This expansion, known as cosmic inflation, would have produced primordial gravitational waves that imprint a faint tell-tale polarized signature on the relic cosmic microwave background radiation. NASA Goddard is currently developing technology for two pathfinder experiments to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background to search for evidence of cosmic inflation in the early universe. The enabling technologies currently under development include highly-sensitive cryogenic detectors and quasioptical polarization modulators.

Rachel is working with the team to further the detector and modulator development. She is testing existing devices, analyzing test data, and designing laboratory test structures.