Q&U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology, Bolometric interferometer in Puna de Atacama, Argentina

The Q&U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology is a radio telescope in the Puna de Atacama plateau that measures cosmic microwave background radiation. The instrument uses extremely sensitive detectors working at two frequency bands of 150 and 220 gigahertz to detect tiny variations in this ancient radiation.

This facility grew from international research efforts that started in 2008 with European institutions and eventually led to its opening on November 23, 2022. The lengthy development from initial concept to finished telescope shows the enormous effort required for such scientific projects.

Scientists from France, Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Argentina work together at this facility to study the early universe. This international collaboration shows how countries join forces to answer fundamental questions about space.

This observatory sits at 4,820 meters elevation in an extreme environment where air temperature is very cold and air pressure is low. Visitors should be aware of the high altitude and harsh conditions and arrive properly prepared.

QUBIC's acronym stands for Q-U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology, Q and U being two parameters of the Stokes vector that describes polarization. The 400 microwave horns feed 1,024 photodetectors, while the bolometric sensors themselves operate at about 300 mK inside a cryostat held at 4 K.