Astro2020 APC White Paper: The need for better tools to design future CMB experiments

Abstract

This white paper addresses key challenges for the design of next-decade Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments, and for assessing their capability to extract cosmological information from CMB polarization. We focus here on the challenges posed by foreground emission, CMB lensing, and instrumental systematics to detect the signal that arises from gravitational waves sourced by inflation and parameterized by r, at the level of r∼10^(−3) or lower, as proposed for future observational efforts. We argue that more accurate and robust analysis and simulation tools are required for these experiments to realize their promise. We are optimistic that the capability to simulate the joint impact of foregrounds, CMB lensing, and systematics can be developed to the level necessary to support the design of a space mission at r∼10^(−4) in a few years. We make the case here for supporting such work. Although ground-based efforts present additional challenges (e.g., atmosphere, ground pickup), which are not addressed here, they would also benefit from these improved simulation capabilities.