The 21 cm HI transition offers a window onto the reionization history of the universe and the formation of the first generation of stars and quasars, when the universe was still metal poor. The global 21 cm signal consists of the non-Galactic distortion of the CMB blackbody radiation through absorption or emission by HI (atomic hydrogen) depending on whether the HI spin temperature is less or greater than the CMB temperature. Recently the EDGES experiment has detected a large signal that appears incompatible with existing theoretical models. There is thus considerable motivation to try to verify or alternatively disprove these measurements.

The REACH experiment is a University of Cambridge-led experiment to probe the global 21cm signal with antennas placed in the Karoo desert in South Africa, chosen for its radio quiet environment near the SKA site. This stage will involve antenna modelling for the REACH experiment. Antenna models will be simulated using the CST computational electromagnetics software package, and the consequences of the antenna patterns on the science extraction will be explored together with Martin Bucher and PhD student Zheng Zhang.

The length and time of this stage is flexible according to the needs of the candidate and can be tailored to accomodate the requirements of the Master's programme in which the candidate is enrolled. Interested candidate are invited to discuss this opportunity with Martin Bucher.