Title: The Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment 2 (CIBER-2): A Near-Infrared Sounding Rocket Payload to Study Large-Scale Structure Formation

Abstract:

The emission from outside of the Milky Way, also known as the extragalactic background light (EBL), traces star formation back to the Epoch of Reionization (EOR) and provides important constraints to cosmological models. Near-infrared data from Spitzer and the sounding rocket experiment CIBER-1 suggest that the observed EBL fluctuates more than predicted by galaxy models. Multiple sources have been proposed to reconcile the differences between observations and theories. In particular, CIBER-1 data can be explained by considering contribution from faint stars known as the intra-halo light (IHL). To study the IHL and distinguish it from EOR signals, the next generation CIBER-2 is designed with significant improvements in wavelength coverage and sensitivities. CIBER-2 was first launched onboard the Black Brant IX vehicle in June 2021 to collect data between 0.5 – 2.0 microns. The experiment is currently being refurbished for the next launch. In this talk, I will discuss CIBER-2 design, characterization, integration, and progress after the first flight.

Zoom Link:

https://zoom.us/j/3199318714?pwd=ZlV3VCsraHpYeGpIRlYwY2hEaU5Gdz09