A Space Mission to Map the Entire Observable Universe using the CMB as a Backlight.
2019
This Science
White Paper, prepared in response to the ESA Voyage 2050 call for long-term mission planning, aims to describe the various science possibilities that can be realized with an L-class
space observatorythat is dedicated to the study of the interactions of
cosmic microwave background(CMB) photons with the
cosmic web. Our aim is specifically to use the CMB as a
backlight-- and survey the gas, total mass, and stellar content of the entire
observable Universeby means of analyzing the spatial and spectral distortions imprinted on it. These distortions result from two major processes that impact on CMB photons: scattering by electrons (Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect in diverse forms,
Rayleigh scattering, resonant scattering) and deflection by
gravitational potential(lensing effect). Even though the list of topics collected in this
White Paperis not exhaustive, it helps to illustrate the exceptional diversity of major scientific questions that can be addressed by a space mission that will reach an
angular resolutionof 1.5 arcmin (goal 1 arcmin), have an average sensitivity better than 1 uK-arcmin, and span the microwave frequency range from roughly 50 GHz to 1 THz. The current paper also highlights the synergy of our
BACKLIGHTmission concept with several upcoming and proposed ground-based CMB experiments.
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