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J. Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to J. Kennedy.

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Fast and accurate predictions of the nonlinear matter power spectrum for general models of Dark Energy and Modified Gravity

We embed linear and nonlinear parametrisations of beyond standard cosmological physics in the halo model reaction framework, providing a model-independent prescription for the nonlinear matter power spectrum. As an application, we focus on Horndeski theories, using the Effective Field Theory of Dark Energy (EFTofDE) to parameterise linear and quasi-nonlinear perturbations. In the nonlinear regime we investigate both a nonlinear parameterised-post Friedmannian (nPPF) approach as well as a physically motivated and approximate phenomenological model based on the error function (Erf). We compare the parameterised approaches' predictions of the nonlinear matter power spectrum to the exact solutions, as well as state-of-the-art emulators, in an evolving dark energy scenario and two well studied modified gravity models, finding sub-percent agreement in the reaction using the Erf model at $z\leq1$ and $k\leq 5~h/{\rm Mpc}$. This suggests only an additional 3 free constants, above the background and linear theory parameters, are sufficient to model nonlinear, non-standard cosmology in the matter power spectrum at scales down to $k \leq 3h~/{\rm Mpc}$ within $2\%$ accuracy. We implement the parametrisations into ver.2.0 of the ReACT code.

astro-ph.CO

Weak-lensing mass calibration of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect using APEX-SZ galaxy clusters

The use of galaxy clusters as precision cosmological probes relies on an accurate determination of their masses. However, inferring the relationship between cluster mass and observables from direct observations is difficult and prone to sample selection biases. In this work, we use weak lensing as the best possible proxy for cluster mass to calibrate the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect measurements from the APEX-SZ experiment. For a well-defined (ROSAT) X-ray complete cluster sample, we calibrate the integrated Comptonization parameter, $Y_{\rm SZ}$, to the weak-lensing derived total cluster mass, $M_{500}$. We employ a novel Bayesian approach to account for the selection effects by jointly fitting both the SZ Comptonization, $Y_{\rm SZ}\text{--}M_{500}$, and the X-ray luminosity, $L_{\rm x}\text{--}M_{500}$, scaling relations. We also account for a possible correlation between the intrinsic (log-normal) scatter of $L_{\rm x}$ and $Y_{\rm SZ}$ at fixed mass. We find the corresponding correlation coefficient to be $r= 0.47_{-0.35}^{+0.24}$, and at the current precision level our constraints on the scaling relations are consistent with previous works. For our APEX-SZ sample, we find that ignoring the covariance between the SZ and X-ray observables biases the normalization of the $Y_{\rm SZ}\text{--}M_{500}$ scaling high by $1\text{--}2σ$ and the slope low by $\sim 1σ$, even when the SZ effect plays no role in the sample selection. We conclude that for higher-precision data and larger cluster samples, as anticipated from on-going and near-future cluster cosmology experiments, similar biases (due to intrinsic covariances of cluster observables) in the scaling relations will dominate the cosmological error budget if not accounted for correctly.

astro-ph.CO

Galaxy cluster scaling relations measured with APEX-SZ

We present thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) measurements for 42 galaxy clusters observed at 150 GHz with the APEX-SZ experiment. For each cluster, we model the pressure profile and calculate the integrated Comptonization $Y$ to estimate the total thermal energy of the intracluster medium (ICM). We compare the measured $Y$ values to X-ray observables of the ICM from the literature (cluster gas mass $M_{\rm{gas}}$, temperature $T_X$, and $Y_X =M_{\rm{gas}}T_X$) that relate to total cluster mass. We measure power law scaling relations, including an intrinsic scatter, between the SZE and X-ray observables for three subsamples within the set of 42 clusters that have uniform X-ray analysis in the literature. We observe that differences between these X-ray analyses introduce significant variability into the measured scaling relations, particularly affecting the normalization. For all three subsamples, we find results consistent with a self-similar model of cluster evolution dominated by gravitational effects. Comparing to predictions from numerical simulations, these scaling relations prefer models that include cooling and feedback in the ICM. Lastly, we measure an intrinsic scatter of $\sim28$ per cent in the $Y-Y_X\,$ scaling relation for all three subsamples.

astro-ph.CO

Large low-temperature magnetoresistance in SrFe2As2 single crystals

We present the first report on a large low-temperature magnetoresistance (MR) of more than 1600% in a SrFe2As2 single crystal and 1300% in a low-energy Ca ion-implanted SrFe2As2 single crystal that occurs before the emergence of crystallographic strain-induced bulk superconductivity arising from a sample aging effect. In accordance to band structure calculations from literature, which consitently show more than 2 bands are involved in the transport, we have modeled this large MR at high fields using a 3-carrier scenario rather than solely on quantum linear MR model generally used to explain the MR in iron-pnictides. At and below 20 K the large MR may be due to 3-carrier transport in an inhomogeneous state where there are superconducting and metallic regions.

cond-mat.supr-con

Performance and on-sky optical characterization of the SPTpol instrument

In January 2012, the 10m South Pole Telescope (SPT) was equipped with a polarization-sensitive camera, SPTpol, in order to measure the polarization anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Measurements of the polarization of the CMB at small angular scales (~several arcminutes) can detect the gravitational lensing of the CMB by large scale structure and constrain the sum of the neutrino masses. At large angular scales (~few degrees) CMB measurements can constrain the energy scale of Inflation. SPTpol is a two-color mm-wave camera that consists of 180 polarimeters at 90 GHz and 588 polarimeters at 150 GHz, with each polarimeter consisting of a dual transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers. The full complement of 150 GHz detectors consists of 7 arrays of 84 ortho-mode transducers (OMTs) that are stripline coupled to two TES detectors per OMT, developed by the TRUCE collaboration and fabricated at NIST. Each 90 GHz pixel consists of two antenna-coupled absorbers coupled to two TES detectors, developed with Argonne National Labs. The 1536 total detectors are read out with digital frequency-domain multiplexing (DfMUX). The SPTpol deployment represents the first on-sky tests of both of these detector technologies, and is one of the first deployed instruments using DfMUX readout technology. We present the details of the design, commissioning, deployment, on-sky optical characterization and detector performance of the complete SPTpol focal plane.

astro-ph.IM

South Pole Telescope Software Systems: Control, Monitoring, and Data Acquisition

We present the software system used to control and operate the South Pole Telescope. The South Pole Telescope is a 10-meter millimeter-wavelength telescope designed to measure anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at arcminute angular resolution. In the austral summer of 2011/12, the SPT was equipped with a new polarization-sensitive camera, which consists of 1536 transition-edge sensor bolometers. The bolometers are read out using 36 independent digital frequency multiplexing (\dfmux) readout boards, each with its own embedded processors. These autonomous boards control and read out data from the focal plane with on-board software and firmware. An overall control software system running on a separate control computer controls the \dfmux boards, the cryostat and all other aspects of telescope operation. This control software collects and monitors data in real-time, and stores the data to disk for transfer to the United States for analysis.

astro-ph.IM

Design and characterization of 90 GHz feedhorn-coupled TES polarimeter pixels in the SPTpol camera

The SPTpol camera is a two-color, polarization-sensitive bolometer receiver, and was installed on the 10 meter South Pole Telescope in January 2012. SPTpol is designed to study the faint polarization signals in the Cosmic Microwave Background, with two primary scientific goals. One is to constrain the tensor-to-scalar ratio of perturbations in the primordial plasma, and thus constrain the space of permissible inflationary models. The other is to measure the weak lensing effect of large-scale structure on CMB polarization, which can be used to constrain the sum of neutrino masses as well as other growth-related parameters. The SPTpol focal plane consists of seven 84-element monolithic arrays of 150 GHz pixels (588 total) and 180 individual 90 GHz single-pixel modules. In this paper we present the design and characterization of the 90 GHz modules.

astro-ph.IM

Feedhorn-coupled TES polarimeter camera modules at 150 GHz for CMB polarization measurements with SPTpol

The SPTpol camera is a dichroic polarimetric receiver at 90 and 150 GHz. Deployed in January 2012 on the South Pole Telescope (SPT), SPTpol is looking for faint polarization signals in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The camera consists of 180 individual Transition Edge Sensor (TES) polarimeters at 90 GHz and seven 84-polarimeter camera modules (a total of 588 polarimeters) at 150 GHz. We present the design, dark characterization, and in-lab optical properties of the 150 GHz camera modules. The modules consist of photolithographed arrays of TES polarimeters coupled to silicon platelet arrays of corrugated feedhorns, both of which are fabricated at NIST-Boulder. In addition to mounting hardware and RF shielding, each module also contains a set of passive readout electronics for digital frequency-domain multiplexing. A single module, therefore, is fully functional as a miniature focal plane and can be tested independently. Across the modules tested before deployment, the detectors average a critical temperature of 478 mK, normal resistance R_N of 1.2 Ohm, unloaded saturation power of 22.5 pW, (detector-only) optical efficiency of ~ 90%, and have electrothermal time constants < 1 ms in transition.

astro-ph.IM

SPTpol: an instrument for CMB polarization measurements with the South Pole Telescope

SPTpol is a dual-frequency polarization-sensitive camera that was deployed on the 10-meter South Pole Telescope in January 2012. SPTpol will measure the polarization anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) on angular scales spanning an arcminute to several degrees. The polarization sensitivity of SPTpol will enable a detection of the CMB "B-mode" polarization from the detection of the gravitational lensing of the CMB by large scale structure, and a detection or improved upper limit on a primordial signal due to inflationary gravity waves. The two measurements can be used to constrain the sum of the neutrino masses and the energy scale of inflation. These science goals can be achieved through the polarization sensitivity of the SPTpol camera and careful control of systematics. The SPTpol camera consists of 768 pixels, each containing two transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometers coupled to orthogonal polarizations, and a total of 1536 bolometers. The pixels are sensitive to light in one of two frequency bands centered at 90 and 150 GHz, with 180 pixels at 90 GHz and 588 pixels at 150 GHz. The SPTpol design has several features designed to control polarization systematics, including: single-moded feedhorns with low cross-polarization, bolometer pairs well-matched to difference atmospheric signals, an improved ground shield design based on far-sidelobe measurements of the SPT, and a small beam to reduce temperature to polarization leakage. We present an overview of the SPTpol instrument design, project status, and science projections.

astro-ph.IM

Frequency Multiplexed SQUID Readout of Large Bolometer Arrays for Cosmic Microwave Background Measurements

A technological milestone for experiments employing Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometers operating at sub-kelvin temperature is the deployment of detector arrays with 100s--1000s of bolometers. One key technology for such arrays is readout multiplexing: the ability to read out many sensors simultaneously on the same set of wires. This paper describes a frequency-domain multiplexed readout system which has been developed for and deployed on the APEX-SZ and South Pole Telescope millimeter wavelength receivers. In this system, the detector array is divided into modules of seven detectors, and each bolometer within the module is biased with a unique ~MHz sinusoidal carrier such that the individual bolometer signals are well separated in frequency space. The currents from all bolometers in a module are summed together and pre-amplified with Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) operating at 4 K. Room-temperature electronics demodulate the carriers to recover the bolometer signals, which are digitized separately and stored to disk. This readout system contributes little noise relative to the detectors themselves, is remarkably insensitive to unwanted microphonic excitations, and provides a technology pathway to multiplexing larger numbers of sensors.

astro-ph.IM

Non-parametric modeling of the intra-cluster gas using APEX-SZ bolometer imaging data

We demonstrate the usability of mm-wavelength imaging data obtained from the APEX-SZ bolometer array to derive the radial temperature profile of the hot intra-cluster gas out to radius r_500 and beyond. The goal is to study the physical properties of the intra-cluster gas by using a non-parametric de-projection method that is, aside from the assumption of spherical symmetry, free from modeling bias. We use publicly available X-ray imaging data from the XMM-Newton observatory and our Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect (SZE) imaging data from the APEX-SZ experiment at 150 GHz to de-project the density and temperature profiles for the relaxed cluster Abell 2204. We derive the gas density, temperature and entropy profiles assuming spherical symmetry, and obtain the total mass profile under the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. For comparison with X-ray spectroscopic temperature models, a re-analysis of the recent Chandra observation is done with the latest calibration updates. Using the non-parametric modeling we demonstrate a decrease of gas temperature in the cluster outskirts, and also measure the gas entropy profile. These results are obtained for the first time independently of X-ray spectroscopy, using SZE and X-ray imaging data. The contribution of the SZE systematic uncertainties in measuring T_e at large radii is shown to be small compared to the Chandra systematic spectroscopic errors. The upper limit on M_200 derived from the non-parametric method is consistent with the NFW model prediction from weak lensing analysis.

astro-ph.CO

Multi-frequency imaging of the galaxy cluster Abell 2163 using the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect

We used the APEX-SZ and LABOCA bolometer cameras on the APEX telescope to map the decrement of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect at 150 GHz and the increment at 345 GHz toward the galaxy cluster Abell 2163. The SZE images were used to model the radial density and temperature distribution of the ICM, and to derive the gas mass fraction in the cluster under the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. We used the isothermal beta model to fit the SZE decrement/increment radial profiles. We performed a simple, non-parametric de-projection of the radial density and temperature profiles, in conjunction with XMM-Newton X-ray data, under the simplifying assumption of spherical symmetry. We combined the peak SZE signals derived in this paper with published SZE measurements of this cluster to derive the cluster line-of-sight bulk velocity and the central Comptonization, using priors on the ICM temperature. We find that the best-fit isothermal model to the SZE data is consistent with the ICM properties implied by the X-ray data, particularly inside the central 1 Mpc radius. Although the assumptions of hydrostatic equilibrium and spherical symmetry may not be optimal for this complex system, the results obtained under these assumptions are consistent with X-ray and weak-lensing measurements. This shows the applicability of the simple joint SZE and X-ray de-projection technique described in this paper for clusters with a wide range of dynamical states. (Abridged)

astro-ph.CO

An imaging time-of-propagation system for charged particle identification at a super B factory

Super B factories that will further probe the flavor sector of the Standard Model and physics beyond will demand excellent charged particle identification (PID), particularly K/pi separation, for momenta up to 4 GeV/c, as well as the ability to operate under beam backgrounds significantly higher than current B factory experiments. We describe an Imaging Time-of-Propagation (iTOP) detector which shows significant potential to meet these requirements. Photons emitted from charged particle interactions in a Cerenkov radiator bar are internally reflected to the end of the bar, where they are collected on a compact image plane using photodetectors with fine spatial segmentation in two dimensions. Precision measurements of photon arrival time are used to enhance the two dimensional imaging, allowing the system to provide excellent PID capabilities within a reduced detector envelope. Results of the ongoing optimization of the geometric and physical properties of such a detector are presented, as well as simulated PID performance. Validation of simulations is being performed using a prototype in a cosmic ray test stand at the University of Hawaii.

physics.ins-det

Constraints on the High-l Power Spectrum of Millimeter-wave Anisotropies from APEX-SZ

We present measurements of the angular power spectrum of millimeter wave anisotropies with the APEX-SZ instrument. APEX-SZ has mapped 0.8 square degrees of sky at a frequency of 150 GHz with an angular resolution of 1'. These new measurements significantly improve the constraints on anisotropy power at 150 GHz over the range of angular multipoles 3000 < l < 10,000, limiting the total astronomical signal in a flat band power to be less than 105 microK^2 at 95% CL. We expect both submillimeter-bright, dusty galaxies and to a lesser extent secondary CMB anisotropies from the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) to significantly contribute to the observed power. Subtracting the SZE power spectrum expected for sigma_8=0.8 and masking bright sources, the best fit value for the remaining power is C_l = 1.1^{+0.9}_{-0.8} x 10^{-5} micro K^2 (1.7^{+1.4}_{-1.3} Jy^2 sr^{-1}). This agrees well with model predictions for power due to submillimeter-bright, dusty galaxies. Comparing this power to the power detected by BLAST at 600 GHz, we find the frequency dependence of the source fluxes to be S_nu ~ nu^{2.6^{+0.4}_{-0.2}} if both experiments measure the same population of sources. Simultaneously fitting for the amplitude of the SZE power spectrum and a Poisson distributed point source population, we place an upper limit on the matter fluctuation amplitude of sigma_8 < 1.18 at 95% confidence.

astro-ph.CO

Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect Observations of the Bullet Cluster (1E 0657-56) with APEX-SZ

We present observations of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) in the Bullet cluster (1E 0657--56) using the APEX-SZ instrument at 150 GHz with a resolution of 1 arcmin. The main results are maps of the SZE in this massive, merging galaxy cluster. The cluster is detected with 23 sigma significance within the central 1 arcmin radius of the source position. The SZE map has a broadly similar morphology to that in existing X-ray maps of this system, and we find no evidence for significant contamination of the SZE emission by radio or IR sources. In order to make simple quantitative comparisons with cluster gas models derived from X-ray observations, we fit our data to an isothermal elliptical beta model, despite the inadequacy of such a model for this complex merging system. With an X-ray derived prior on the power-law index, beta = 1.04 +0.16 -0.10, we find a core radius r_c =142 +/- 18 arcsec, an axial ratio of 0.889 +/- 0.072, and a central temperature decrement of -771 +/- 71 micro-K_CMB, including a +/-5.5% flux calibration uncertainty. Combining the APEX-SZ map with a map of projected electron surface density from Chandra X-ray observations, we determine the mass-weighted temperature of the cluster gas to be T_mg=10.8 +/- 0.9 keV, significantly lower than some previously reported X-ray spectroscopic temperatures. Under the assumption of an isothermal cluster gas distribution in hydrostatic equilibrium, we compute the gas mass fraction for prolate and oblate spheroidal geometries and find it to be consistent with previous results from X-ray and weak lensing observations. This work is the first result from the APEX-SZ experiment, and represents the first reported scientific result from observations with a large array of multiplexed superconducting transition-edge sensor bolometers.

astro-ph