Fredagskollokvium: ACT Data release 6 (preview)

Sigurd K. Næss, Researcher at Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo.

portrettbildet av en mann
Sigurd K. Næss is researcher in the Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy research group of the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, UiO. Photo: Private.

Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) was until recently one of two high-resolution Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) telescopes, with a 6 m primary mirror and a resolution 5x that of the Planck space telescope. The previous cosmology data release, DR4, covered 4 years of data with polarization-sensitive detectors, covering the period 2013-2016. After that, the telescope was upgraded to the AdvancedACT configuration followed by another 6 years of observation (2017-2022). We are finally getting ready to release this data as data release 6 (DR6), which represents a factor 6-10 increase in sensitivity compared to DR4. It covers roughly half the sky and is several times deeper than Planck there. I will present ACT, the DR6 data set and maps, the current science results as well as previews of the soon upcoming ones, and, finally, a look towards ACT's successor: Simons Observatory.

Photo of a design of the telescope
A view of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) in Chile’s High Atacama Desert. ACT, in operation since 2006, has taken measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and of massive galaxy clusters. Image Credit: Mark Devlin/University of Pennsylvania.
Emneord: fredagskollokvium, institute seminar, kosmologi, Cosmology, CMB, telescope
Publisert 10. sep. 2023 18:51 - Sist endret 4. okt. 2023 09:52