An Investigation of the Cooling Properties of a Sapphire Half-Wave Plate for SPIDER

Author: Crites, Abigail Tinney

Year: 2006

Degree: Senior thesis (Major)

Advisor: Lange, Andrew E.

Committee Member: None, None

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/kpqr-kr27

Abstract

Specific cryogenic data about the thermal and optical properties of sapphire are required to properly implement the sapphire half-wave plate that will be used to modulate the polarization signal in the next generation of CMB polarimeters. The wave plate must be operated from a base temperature of between 4 and 20 K. Simulations and experiments in a cryostat will determine if the sapphire sample can be radiatively cooled to approximately 20 K when operating from a 4.2K base temperature. These data will be used to design the final wave plate mount and determine how it will be operated.

Files

• Crites_AT_2006.pdf (application/pdf)