The Large-Scale Polarization Explorer (LSPE)
Abstract
The LSPE is a balloon-borne mission aimed at measuring the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) at large angular scales, and in particular to constrain the curl component of CMB polarization (B-modes) produced by tensor perturbations generated during cosmic inflation, in the very early universe. Its primary target is to improve the limit on the ratio of tensor to scalar perturbations amplitudes down to r = 0.03, at 99.7% confidence. A second target is to produce wide maps of foreground polarization generated in our Galaxy by synchrotron emission and interstellar dust emission. These will be important to map Galactic magnetic fields and to study the properties of ionized gas and of diffuse interstellar dust in our Galaxy. The mission is optimized for large angular scales, with coarse angular resolution (around 1.5 degrees FWHM), and wide sky coverage (25% of the sky). The payload will fly in a circumpolar long duration balloon mission during the polar night. Using the Earth as a giant solar shield, the instrument will spin in azimuth, observing a large fraction of the northern sky. The payload will host two instruments. An array of coherent polarimeters using cryogenic HEMT amplifiers will survey the sky at 43 and 90 GHz. An array of bolometric polarimeters, using large throughput multi-mode bolometers and rotating Half Wave Plates (HWP), will survey the same sky region in three bands at 95, 145 and 245 GHz. The wide frequency coverage will allow optimal control of the polarized foregrounds, with comparable angular resolution at all frequencies.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1208.0281,
title = {The Large-Scale Polarization Explorer (LSPE)},
author = {The LSPE collaboration and S. Aiola and G. Amico and P. Battaglia and E. Battistelli and A. Baù and P. de Bernardis and M. Bersanelli and A. Boscaleri and F. Cavaliere and A. Coppolecchia and A. Cruciani and F. Cuttaia and A. D' Addabbo and G. D'Alessandro and S. De Gregori and F. Del Torto and M. De Petris and L. Fiorineschi and C. Franceschet and E. Franceschi and M. Gervasi and D. Goldie and A. Gregorio and V. Haynes and N. Krachmalnicoff and L. Lamagna and B. Maffei and D. Maino and S. Masi and A. Mennella and Ng Ming Wah and G. Morgante and F. Nati and L. Pagano and A. Passerini and O. Peverini and F. Piacentini and L. Piccirillo and G. Pisano and S. Ricciardi and P. Rissone and G. Romeo and M. Salatino and M. Sandri and A. Schillaci and L. Stringhetti and A. Tartari and R. Tascone and L. Terenzi and M. Tomasi and E. Tommasi and F. Villa and G. Virone and S. Withington and A. Zacchei and M. Zannoni},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1208.0281},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
In press. Copyright 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited