Implementing Instrumental and Observational Effects in 21cm Simulations

Cosmic Dawn (CD) is the period in our Universe’s history when first-generation stars and galaxies were formed. Despite its importance, we have yet to directly observe this period. Next-generation radio telescopes promise to change this by utilizing a technique known as 21cm tomography. The current state-of-the-art software package for making theoretical predictions in 21cm tomography is known as 21cmFAST, and operates in conjunction with its cousin 21CMMC that relates these predictions to observations. These were developed by Dr. Andrei Mesinger of Scuola Normale Superiore. Unfortunately, there are a number of systematic effects that 21CMMC does not currently take into account. These include instrumental artifacts imprinted by real-world effects in telescopes and interferometers as well as calibration errors in the instruments and astrophysical contaminants known as foregrounds. To unlock next-generation CD science, a revision of 21CMMC is therefore necessary. Thus far, my PhD has provided me with expertise in the current version of 21CMMC as well as in a broad array of the aforementioned systematic effects. I will collaborate in person with Dr. Mesinger to incorporate real-world observational effects into 21CMMC, eliminating a crucial bottleneck in our quest to directly understand CD with next-generation radio telescopes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Adrian Liu

Student:

Partner:

Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Aerospace; Other

University:

McGill University

Program: