Large Scale Polarization Explorer (LSPE)
The LSPE project is a mission of the Italian Space Agency based on the development of two instruments aimed at joint surveys of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization at large scales and with very high precision. A further purpose of the mission consists in the validation of new technologies developed in Italy necessary for a future large international mission in this field. The two instruments are: i) SWIPE that is based on bolometric radiometers operating at frequency channels located between 145 GHz and 240 GHz and that will be embarked on a stratospheric balloon; ii) STRIP, which is a radio telescope consisting of an array of coherent radiometers operating at 43 GHz and 90 GHz to be installed at the Astronomical Observatory of Tenerife.
PARTNERS & CNR-IEIIT ROLE
Partners: Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, Università di Milano, Università di Milano “Bicocca”, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica - INAF, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare - INFN, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Università di Genova, Cardiff University, SISSA, Università di Pisa, California Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University of Oxford, Università degli Studi di Padova, University of Manchester.
IEIIT is involved in the development of the STRIP instrument with responsibility for the development of the waveguide antenna feed systems and the far-field calibration setup via an UAV.
OTHER INFORMATION
Funding: Italian Space Agency (ASI), National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN)
Timeline: 2011-2021
