The characterization of the polarized fluctuations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is a major scientific way to further understand the primordial Universe. QUBIC (Q & U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology) is an international experiment dedicated in the measurement of this signal. It is based on bolometric interferometry in order to combine the high immunity to systematic effects of an interferometer with the high sensitivity of low temperature incoherent detectors. The detection chain consists in 2048 Transition Edge Sensors cooled to 300mK. QUBIC will observe the polarization of the CMB from Argentina in 2018. Build by an international collaboration, QUBIC is now in integration phase and a calibration phase will be done at APC by end of 2017 in order to fully characterize the experiment and especially the detection chain.

The Ph.D student will take part of this characterization phase where all the performances of the instrument will be measured and compared to models that she/he will contribute to build with all the QUBIC collaboration. One of the critical point is the characterization of the superconducting detectors. Measurements in other testbeds will also be used in order to build the detailed model of the detectors. Such work will also be very important for the commissioning phase in Argentina. The Ph.D student is expected to contribute significantly to the characterization of the instrument on site, as well as to the analysis of the first scientific observation runs.