Q/U Imaging ExperimenT, Radio telescope at Llano de Chajnantor Observatory, Chile

The Q/U Imaging ExperimenT was a cosmic microwave background experiment at Llano de Chajnantor Observatory in the Chilean Andes, at an elevation of 5,080 metres. It used four telescopes: three purpose-built 2 m dishes and the 7 m Crawford Hill telescope from CAPMAP, giving angular resolutions from a few arcminutes to several degrees. Its detectors were mass-produced coherent correlation polarimeters, and the instrument has since been dismantled from the old CBI mount.

The telescope began observing cosmic microwave background radiation in 2008 and collected data through December 2010. This operational window provided significant contributions to cosmological research and understanding of the universe's early radiation patterns.

The observatory represents a collaboration between scientists from multiple institutions across different continents working toward understanding the universe's origins. This international partnership shows how researchers unite around shared scientific goals regardless of national borders.

The remote desert location provides minimal atmospheric interference for precise observations of cosmic radiation. The high altitude and harsh terrain mean visitors should prepare appropriately for these challenging environmental conditions.

The instrument measured Stokes parameters Q and U simultaneously using detector arrays operating at 43 and 95 gigahertz frequencies. This specialized measuring approach enabled analysis of polarized radiation from the universe's earliest epoch.