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ROMFORSK-Program for romforskning

COMAP: Mapping the teenage universe with carbon monoxide

Alternative title: COMAP: Kartlegge universets ungdomstid med karbonmonoksid

Awarded: NOK 5.0 mill.

The greatest success story in modern cosmology is the mapping of temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Providing a direct image of the infant universe, experiments such as COBE, WMAP and Planck have revolutionized modern cosmology. Most cosmological parameters have been constrained to percent level accuracy, including the age and expansion speed of the universe, and dark and baryonic matter densities. The same observations have also opened a new view of the Milky Way, resulting in detailed maps of synchrotron, free-free, CO and (both spinning and thermal) dust emission. The next frontier lies in 3D mapping of the cosmic density field of redshifts up to z~20. These structures promise to open up an entirely new window on cosmology, and in particular on dark energy, dark matter, and early galaxy and star formation. Examples of important relevant experiments are CHIME, Euclid, SKA and many others. However, the experimental obstacles are massive, both in form of astrophysical foreground and instrumental challenges. A unique novel approach has been proposed that exploits CO (carbon monoxide) line emission for the same purpose. Carbon monoxide is formed wherever there is star formation, and must be present in the first galaxies. Furthermore, CO emits strongly at a sharp frequency of 115GHz and multiples thereof, and high-resolution observations at lower frequencies may therefore be employed to map the high-redshift universe.The first CO intensity mapping pathfinder is called COMAP, which employs MMIC detectors at 30-34 GHz to cover z=2.3-2.7 (CO 1-0) and 6-7 (CO 2-1). First light for the COMAP experiment took place in March 2018, and the following year was spent testing and optimizing the instrument. Routine observations commenced in June 2019, around the same time as the COMAP analysis meeting was held in Balestrand in Sognefjorden. Observations have continued smoothly since that time, with only minor engineering breaks. As of December 31st 2019, the COMAP instrument has collected almost six months of good data, and these measurements are currently being analysed at the University of Oslo. The first results are expected to be published towards the end of 2020.

COMAP er et Caltech-ledet eksperiment som leter etter signaturen av karbonmonoksid (CO) som ble skapt inni de aller første galaksene. Universitetet i Oslo leder analyse-innsatsen i dette prosjektet. Dataene sendes direkte fra observatoriet til Oslo hver natt, og prosesseres fortløpende på lokale maskiner. Denne rollen har vært svært verdifull for UiO, og COMAP-prosjektet har gjort at UiO i dag er verdensledende innen analyse av CO-målinger. Det viktigste vitenskapelige resultatet fra den første fasen av COMAP er en demonstrasjon av at COMAP-teknologien yter i henhold til forventningene, selv etter at systematiske effekter er tatt hensyn til. Dersom like god ytelse fortsetter, er det all grunn til å håpe at den første deteksjonen av CO-signal skjer i løpet av det kommende året. For å konsolidere denne suksessen, og garantere en fortsatt ledende posisjon i feltet, vil UiO-forskere søke om finansiering for videreføring av prosjektet (COMAP2) fra NFR i 2020.

The greatest success story in modern cosmology is the mapping of temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Providing a direct image of the infant universe, experiments such as COBE, WMAP and Planck have revolutionized modern cosmology. Most cosmological parameters have been constrained to percent level accuracy, including the age and expansion speed of the universe, and dark and baryonic matter densities. The same observations have also opened a new view of the Milky Way, resulting in detailed maps of synchrotron, free-free, CO and (both spinning and thermal) dust emission. The next frontier lies in 3D mapping of the cosmic density field of redshifts up to z~20. These structures promise to open up an entirely new window on cosmology, and in particular on dark energy, dark matter, and early galaxy and star formation. Examples of important relevant experiments are CHIME, Euclid, SKA and many others. However, the experimental obstacles are massive, both in form of astrophysical foreground and instrumental challenges. A unique novel approach has been proposed that exploits CO (carbon monoxide) line emission for the same purpose. Carbon monoxide is formed wherever there is star formation, and must be present in the first galaxies. Furthermore, CO emits strongly at a sharp frequency of 115 GHz and multiples thereof, and high-resolution observations at lower frequencies may therefore be employed to map the high-redshift universe. The first CO intensity mapping pathfinder is called COMAP, which employs MMIC detectors at 30-34 GHz to cover z=2.3-2.7 (CO 1-0) and 6-7 (CO 2-1). The University of Oslo has been invited to join this experiment, due to our leadership in the QUIET and Planck experiments. The main goal of the current application is to fund this work, securing Norway's position in the forefront of 21st century cosmology, and prepare the ground for future Norwegian leadership in large-scale structure data analysis, in particular for Euclid.

Funding scheme:

ROMFORSK-Program for romforskning