CO Mapping Array Project (COMAP)

COMAP is a line-intensity mapping experiment to trace carbon monoxide (CO) in the early universe.

Line-intensity mapping is a new technique to map the integrated emission of spectral lines from the early universe. Multiple lines, such as CO, hydrogen 21 cm, and CII, are employed to study the three-dimensional distribution of the galaxies and the intergalactic medium. The CO Mapping Array Project (COMAP) 10.4-meter dish is located at Owens Valley Radio Observatory, operated by Caltech. The 26 to 34 GHz frequency band of the COMAP Phase I is sensitive to the CO(1-0) emission from the redshifts between 2.4 and 3.4.

A Water Vapor Radiometer for COMAP

We received funding from the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation to build a water vapor radiometer (WVR) for COMAP. This project aims to develop and commission a WVR that continuously measures the temporal variability of the atmosphere’s water vapor along the observation line of sight. We expect that the WVR system will significantly improve the data quality of COMAP since atmospheric fluctuation is one of the major systematics that affects the detection of the CO signal.

Collaborators

Kieran Cleary, COMAP Collaboration


© 2021 Junhan Kim. All rights reserved.