CHARACTERISATION OF THE PLANCK RADIO FREQUENCY QUALIFICATION MODEL AND PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT MODEL TESTS

摘要

The measurement of the radiation patterns of the PLANCK Radio Frequency Qualification Model (RFQM) is one of the most important elements of the verification of the PLANCK telescope. PLANCK is one of the scientific missions of the European Space Agency and is devoted to observe the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation, with unprecedented accuracy. The satellite payload consists of two state-of-the-art, cryogenically cooled instruments sharing a dual reflector telescope with 1.5 m aperture and covering the frequency range from 27 GHz to 1000 GHz. As a key part of the telescope verification logic, the radiation patterns of the RFQM has been measured in the Alcatel Alenia Space Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) at four frequencies (30, 70, 100 and 320 GHz) using representative flight feed horns of the focal plane unit. This paper presents the test logic, the measured radiation patterns, the custom-made instrumentation set-up, the correction techniques used and the final link to the Flight Model verification.