In-flight calibration and verification of the Planck-LFI instrument
Bersanelli, M.; Butler, R. C.; Cuttaia, F.; Frailis, M.; Franceschi, E.; Galeotta, S.; Gregorio, A.; Leonardi, R.; Mandolesi, N.; Maris, M.; Mendes, L.; Mennella, A.; Morgante, G.; Sandri, M.; Terenzi, L.; Tomasi, M.; Villa, F.; Wilkinson, A.; Zacchei, A.; Zonca, A.; Foley, S.; Tavagnacco, D.; Pearson, D.; Laureijs, R.; Texier, D.; Melot, F.; Battaglia, P.; Baker, M.; Charra, M.; Maciaszek, T.; Stassi, P.; Wilson, P.; Meinhold, P.; Davis, R.; Franceschet, C.; Lowe, S.; Stringhetti, L.; Watson, C. J.; Casale, M.; Tauber, J.; Perez Cuevas, L.; Krassenburg, M.; Rihet, P.
Italy, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands
Abstract
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.