Planck pre-launch status: The Planck-LFI programme

Mandolesi, N.; Bersanelli, M.; Butler, R. C.; Artal, E.; Baccigalupi, C.; Balbi, A.; Banday, A. J.; Barreiro, R. B.; Bartelmann, M.; Bennett, K.; Bhandari, P.; Bonaldi, A.; Borrill, J.; Bremer, M.; Burigana, C.; Bowman, R. C.; Cabella, P.; Cantalupo, C.; Cappellini, B.; Courvoisier, T.; Crone, G.; Cuttaia, F.; Danese, L.; D'Arcangelo, O.; Davies, R. D.; Davis, R. J.; de Angelis, L.; de Gasperis, G.; de Rosa, A.; de Troia, G.; de Zotti, G.; Dick, J.; Dickinson, C.; Diego, J. M.; Donzelli, S.; Dörl, U.; Dupac, X.; Enßlin, T. A.; Eriksen, H. K.; Falvella, M. C.; Finelli, F.; Frailis, M.; Franceschi, E.; Gaier, T.; Galeotta, S.; Gasparo, F.; Giardino, G.; Gomez, M. F.; Gonzalez-Nuevo, J.; Górski, K. M.; Gregorio, A.; Gruppuso, A.; Hansen, F.; Hell, R.; Herranz, D.; Herreros, J. M.; Hildebrandt, S.; Hovest, W.; Hoyland, R.; Huffenberger, K.; Janssen, M.; Jaffe, T.; Keihänen, E.; Keskitalo, R.; Kisner, T.; Kurki-Suonio, H.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Lawrence, C. R.; Leach, S. M.; Leahy, J. P.; Leonardi, R.; Levin, S.; Lilje, P. B.; López-Caniego, M.; Lowe, S. R.; Lubin, P. M.; Maino, D.; Malaspina, M.; Maris, M.; Marti-Canales, J.; Martinez-Gonzalez, E.; Massardi, M.; Matarrese, S.; Matthai, F.; Meinhold, P.; Melchiorri, A.; Mendes, L.; Mennella, A.; Morgante, G.; Morigi, G.; Morisset, N.; Moss, A.; Nash, A.; Natoli, P.; Nesti, R.; Paine, C.; Partridge, B.; Pasian, F.; Passvogel, T.; Pearson, D. et al.
Bibliographical reference

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 520, id.A3

Advertised on:
9
2010
Number of authors
143
IAC number of authors
6
Citations
94
Refereed citations
83
Description
This paper provides an overview of the Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) programme within the ESA Planck mission. The LFI instrument has been developed to produce high precision maps of the microwave sky at frequencies in the range 27-77 GHz, below the peak of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation spectrum. The scientific goals are described, ranging from fundamental cosmology to Galactic and extragalactic astrophysics. The instrument design and development are outlined, together with the model philosophy and testing strategy. The instrument is presented in the context of the Planck mission. The LFI approach to ground and inflight calibration is described. We also describe the LFI ground segment. We present the results of a number of tests demonstrating the capability of the LFI data processing centre (DPC) to properly reduce and analyse LFI flight data, from telemetry information to calibrated and cleaned time ordered data, sky maps at each frequency (in temperature and polarization), component emission maps (CMB and diffuse foregrounds), catalogs for various classes of sources (the Early Release Compact Source Catalogue and the Final Compact Source Catalogue). The organization of the LFI consortium is briefly presented as well as the role of the core team in data analysis and scientific exploitation. All tests carried out on the LFI flight model demonstrate the excellent performance of the instrument and its various subunits. The data analysis pipeline has been tested and its main steps verified. In the first three months after launch, the commissioning, calibration, performance, and verification phases will be completed, after which Planck will begin its operational life, in which LFI will have an integral part.
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Full-sky map showing the spatial distribution of the primary anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background (generated 380,000 years after the Big Bang) derived from observations of the Planck satellite
Anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background
The general goal of this project is to determine and characterize the spatial and spectral variations in the temperature and polarisation of the Cosmic Microwave Background in angular scales from several arcminutes to several degrees. The primordial matter density fluctuations which originated the structure in the matter distribution of the present
Rafael
Rebolo López