Observing the Evolution of the Universe

TL;DR

This paper discusses the importance of high-resolution measurements of the CMB anisotropies for understanding the universe's evolution, highlighting recent technological advancements with telescopes like ACT and SPT.

Contribution

It introduces new observational capabilities and instrumentation for mapping the CMB at arcminute resolution, enabling detailed studies of cosmological phenomena.

Findings

Enhanced sky mapping with microKelvin sensitivity

Detection of anisotropies at small angular scales

Potential to measure dark energy evolution and neutrino mass

Abstract

How did the universe evolve? The fine angular scale (l>1000) temperature and polarization anisotropies in the CMB are a Rosetta stone for understanding the evolution of the universe. Through detailed measurements one may address everything from the physics of the birth of the universe to the history of star formation and the process by which galaxies formed. One may in addition track the evolution of the dark energy and discover the net neutrino mass. We are at the dawn of a new era in which hundreds of square degrees of sky can be mapped with arcminute resolution and sensitivities measured in microKelvin. Acquiring these data requires the use of special purpose telescopes such as the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), located in Chile, and the South Pole Telescope (SPT). These new telescopes are outfitted with a new generation of custom mm-wave kilo-pixel arrays. Additional instruments are in the planning stages.