In-flight calibration and verification of the Planck-LFI instrument

Gregorio, Anna; Cuttaia, F.; Mennella, A.; Bersanelli, M.; Maris, M.; Meinhold, P.; Sandri, M.; Terenzi, L.; Tomasi, M.; Villa, F.; Frailis, M.; Morgante, G.; Pearson, D.; Zacchei, A.; Battaglia, P.; Butler, R. C.; Davis, R.; Franceschet, C.; Franceschi, E.; Galeotta, S.; Leonardi, R.; Lowe, S.; Mandolesi, N.; Melot, F.; Mendes, L.; Stassi, P.; Stringhetti, L.; Tavagnacco, Daniele; Zonca, A.; Wilkinson, A.; Wilson, P.; Charra, M.; Maciaszek, T.; Foley, S.; Watson, C. J.; Casale, M.; Laureijs, R.; Tauber, J.; Texier, D.; Baker, M.; Perez Cuevas, L.; Krassenburg, M.; Rihet, P.

doi:10.1088/1748-0221/8/07/T07001

In this paper we discuss the Planck-LFI in-flight calibration campaign. After a brief overview of the ground test campaigns, we describe in detail the calibration and performance verification (CPV) phase, carried out in space during and just after the cool-down of LFI. We discuss in detail the functionality verification, the tuning of the front-end and warm electronics, the preliminary performance assessment and the thermal susceptibility tests. The logic, sequence, goals and results of the in-flight tests are discussed. All the calibration activities were successfully carried out and the instrument response was comparable to the one observed on ground. For some channels the in-flight tuning activity allowed us to improve significantly the noise performance.

In-flight calibration and verification of the Planck-LFI instrument / Gregorio, A., F., C., A., M., M., B., M., M., P., M., M., S., L., T., M., T., F., V., M., F., G., M., D., P., A., Z., P., B., R. C., B., R., D., C., F., E., F., S., G., et al.. - In: JOURNAL OF INSTRUMENTATION. - ISSN 1748-0221. - ELETTRONICO. - 8:T07001(2013), pp. 1-100. [10.1088/1748-0221/8/07/T07001]