COMAP Early Science: II. Pathfinder Instrument

Abstract

Line intensity mapping (LIM) is a new technique for tracing the global properties of galaxies over cosmic time. Detection of the very faint signals from redshifted carbon monoxide (CO), a tracer of star formation, pushes the limits of what is feasible with a total-power instrument. The CO Mapping Project (COMAP) Pathfinder is a first-generation instrument aiming to prove the concept and develop the technology for future experiments, as well as delivering early science products. With 19 receiver channels in a hexagonal focal plane arrangement on a 10.4 m antenna, and an instantaneous 26-34 GHz frequency range with 2 MHz resolution, it is ideally suited to measuring CO($J$=1-0) from $z\sim 3$. In this paper we discuss strategies for designing and building the Pathfinder and the challenges that were encountered. The design of the instrument prioritized LIM requirements over those of ancillary science. After a couple of years of operation, the instrument is well understood, and the first year of data is already yielding useful science results. Experience with this Pathfinder will drive the design of the next generations of experiments.

Paper 2 of 7 in series. 27 pages, 28 figures, submitted to ApJ

References in corpus (4)

• COMAP Early Science: I. Overview
• COMAP Early Science: VII. Prospects for CO Intensity Mapping at Reionization
• COMAP Early Science: III. CO Data Processing
• South Pole Telescope Software Systems: Control, Monitoring, and Data Acquisition

Cited by in corpus (9)

• COMAP Early Science: I. Overview
• COMAP Early Science: VII. Prospects for CO Intensity Mapping at Reionization
• COMAP Early Science: III. CO Data Processing
• Unveiling cosmological information on small scales with line intensity mapping
• COMAP Pathfinder -- Season 2 results I. Improved data selection and processing
• COMAP Pathfinder -- Season 2 results II. Updated constraints on the CO(1-0) power spectrum
• COMAP Pathfinder -- Season 2 results III. Implications for cosmic molecular gas content at "Cosmic Half-past Eleven"
• Direct correlation of line intensity mapping and CMB lensing from evolution along the lightcone
• COMAP Pathfinder -- Season 2 results IV. A stack on eBOSS/DESI quasars