AMiBA 2011

The above image shows the early analysis of the 13-element AMiBA data for Abell 1689, which is detected with very high significance.

At present AMiBA is operating with 13 1.2-m antennas on its hexapod.

One refereed paper prepares for the 13-element AMiBA data-taking run that will start later in 2009. Again Bristol authors had a major input (and the first author is a former student of Birkinshaw).

• Constraining intracluster gas models with AMiBA13
  Molnar et al. (ApJ submitted; 2009)

An example of a simulated AMiBA survey field is shown below. The top left shows the simulated SZ sky map, top right the same image with primordial CMB superimposed (and the colour scale flipped, so that the clusters appear as hot spots). At bottom left is the expected appearance of the field as observed with seven 1.2-m elements. At the bottom right is the expected appearance of the field as it will be seen by the 13 1.2-m element AMiBA, later in 2009. Circles mark 4-sigma detected clusters, and a three-week integration on the 1 square degree field is shown.

Many technical issues and reports associated with the AMiBA project are available on the AMiBA blog site or by following the links from the main AMiBA site .