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BICEP and KECK Array
Telescope Details
Location:
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
Purpose:
Measure the cosmic microwave background (CMB) to search for signs of the Big Bang, the early inflation of the universe.
NIST’s role:
Provided chips and electronics to amplify signals and assemble them into a sequential time stream.
Significant discoveries:
Set the most stringent upper limits on the amplitude of gravity waves produced in the earliest moments of the universe, creating the deepest maps of the CMB.
Other interesting facts:
The South Pole is one of the best spots on Earth for microwave astronomy. At an altitude of more than 2,743 meters (9,000 feet), there’s little atmosphere above to disrupt incoming light from space. The thin air is extremely cold and dry, further minimizing atmospheric distortions.
Supported by:
National Science Foundation
Team members:
California Institute of Technology and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Minnesota, NIST, University of British Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Toronto and University of Wales Cardiff
Media
