# Collaborative Research: Mapping the universe in neutral hydrogen with CHIME

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA) · $279,914

## Abstract

Measurements of the spatial clustering of matter in the universe can reveal clues about the nature of the mysterious “dark energy” that is causing the universe’s expansion to accelerate. A new powerful way to measure this clustering at early epochs in the universe’s history is to use radio telescopes to detect the hydrogen gas that is ubiquitous in all galaxies. A team of scientists from Arizona State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, and West Virginia University, is using a custom-built radio telescope, the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), to make one of the first measurements of dark energy from observations of radio waves emitted by hydrogen in the universe. This project will develop several new techniques to leverage the latest developments in signal processing, detector technology, and theoretical modeling. In parallel, this project will expand several outreach programs that teach high school and college-aged students about astronomy and scientific thinking.

The goal of this project is to solve critical calibration and analysis challenges for CHIME that will reduce residual foreground contamination by an order of magnitude and enable the detection of the large-scale structure of the universe with the 21cm line, independent of other probes. CHIME’s recent measurements of cross-correlations between 21cm intensity maps and eBOSS galaxies up to redshift 1.4, and the Lyman-alpha forest up to redshift 2.3, have demons

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2510771
- **Awardee organization:** Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** E2NYLCDML6V1
- **PI:** Kiyoshi W Masui
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY
- **Estimated total:** $279,914
- **Funds obligated:** $279,914
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2510771

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2510771, Collaborative Research: Mapping the universe in neutral hydrogen with CHIME. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2510771. Licensed CC0.

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