COFE

COFE – COsmic Foreground Explorer

A new balloon-borne mission to study the polarization spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) of the universe at low l numbers. COFE will have two primary scientific goals:

• Measurement and understanding of the polarization characteristics of important galactic foregrounds at low l (2-100) and frequencies below 50 GHz. These foregrounds include Synchrotron radiation, Bremstrahlung radiation, possible emission from spinning dust, and some potential (small) contribution from point sources.
• Exploration of the low- l systematic limits to sub-orbital CMB polarization experiments for possible future large scale balloon borne missions.
• The Cosmic Foreground Explorer A balloon-borne microwave polarimeter to characterize polarized foregrounds – SD – 2006

One of the two sleds making up the frame for COFE

Feed horn for COFE – 10GHz