Uncovering the Early Universe with TIFUUN Simulations

Background

Line-intensity mapping (LIM) measures the strength of an astronomical signal as a function of spatial scale in the early Universe (a `power spectrum’). This means it focuses on the properties of the Universe as a whole, rather than individual galaxies. Because LIM integrates over volumes in the early Universe, it can detect signals that would be too weak to find in individual objects. However, there is also a danger: by integrating over entire volumes, systematic errors can accumulate and obscure the astronomical signals of interest.

TIFUUN is a planned instrument that will be able to observe 3D cubes of the early Universe, and that will be used for LIM. With TIFUUN in its design phase, understanding how the astrophysical signal and various error sources (atmosphere, foreground galaxies, detector noise) manifest in the power spectrum is critical for making informed design choices.

Your project

The objective is to develop simulations of LIM power spectra as observed by the TIFUUN instrument. You will model the expected noise contributions, observational systematics, and astronomical signals and evaluate how these propagate into the power spectrum. To do this, you will have gateau at your disposal. This is a software package that can simulate TIFUUN observations from start to finish, including various error sources and observing strategies. You can investigate optimal power-spectrum construction, sky-scanning schemes, or sampling requirements. The results of this work can directly inform the design and operational strategy of TIFUUN, and place your work at the forefront of astronomical innovation.

Example research questions

• How does the atmosphere and detector noise appear in a power spectrum, and how does that differ from astronomical signals?

• What analysis techniques and observing strategies can are best for isolating the astronomical spectrum?

This project is flexible and can be tailored to your interests. If you are interested, please send me an email or drop by my office.

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Last modified: 2025-11-28