Home > Leadership Development Seminars > 4. Monozukuri seminar > Opening new windows of millimeter-wave sensing - atmospheric sensing, observational cosmology, and dark matter
Opening new windows of millimeter-wave sensing - atmospheric sensing, observational cosmology, and dark matter
A millimeter-wave sensing is a hot topic in wide fields. In particular, recent technological breakthroughs, such as high-speed semiconductor devices, superconducting sensor, and automotive radar, rapidly promote its motion. We have developed social/industrial applications of the millimeter-wave sensing based on novel technologies developed for CMB(cosmic microwave background radiation) research. "KUMODeS" (KEK Universal Moisture and Oxygen Detection System) is one of our achievements. It is a cutting-edge atmospheric water vapor monitor. Forecasting and now-casting of severe weather conditions, such as tornadoes, local heavy rainfall, and thunderstorms, are important subjects in meteorology. Cumulonimbi locally cause these natural hazards in a short period of time. To mitigate their damage, technology to detect a "sign" prior to the event should be developed. One of the most significant signs is the rapid increase of the atmospheric water vapor in the low-level troposphere. Precise monitoring of the water vapor by using KUMODeS is expected to provide knowledge of the short-term variation of the atmospheric thermodynamic structure before the occurrence of the severe weather. We are also expanding application fields of KUMODeS: improvement of crustal deformation monitor, volcanic activity monitor, and particle physics (e.g. search for a hidden photon dark matter). In this seminar, I will present backgrounds, technology, and test observation results of KUMODeS. Activities for the basic science, CMB and dark matter search, will be presented, too.
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