High resolution SZ observations at the IRAM 30-m telescope with NIKA

TL;DR

This paper discusses high-resolution thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect observations using the NIKA camera at the IRAM 30-m telescope, highlighting its technology, initial galaxy cluster observations, and future upgrades with NIKA2.

Contribution

It introduces the NIKA camera's KID technology, presents initial galaxy cluster observations, and outlines plans for the advanced NIKA2 instrument.

Findings

Successful demonstration of NIKA's capabilities with galaxy clusters

First observations of high-redshift cluster CL J1226.9+3332

Prospects for enhanced NIKA2 observations with larger field of view

Abstract

High resolution observations of the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (tSZ) effect are necessary to allow the use of clusters of galaxies as a probe for large scale structures at high redshifts. With its high resolution and dual-band capability at millimeter wavelengths, the NIKA camera can play a significant role in this context. NIKA is based on newly developed Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs) and operates at the IRAM 30m telescope, Pico Veleta, Spain. In this paper, we give the status of the NIKA camera, focussing on the KID technology. We then present observations of three galaxy clusters: RX J1347.5-1145 as a demonstrator of the NIKA capabilities and the recent observations of CL J1226.9+3332 (z = 0.89) and MACS J0717.5+3745 (z = 0.55). We also discuss prospects for the final NIKA2 camera, which will have a 6.5 arcminute field of view with about 5000 detectors in two bands at 150 and 260 GHz.