Planck pre-launch status: the Planck-LFI programme

Understand

This paper provides an overview of the Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) programme within the ESA Planck mission.

• The LFI instrument has been developed to produce high precision maps of the microwave sky at frequencies in the range 27-77 GHz, below the peak of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation spectrum.
• The scientific goals are described, ranging from fundamental cosmology to Galactic and extragalactic astrophysics.
• The instrument design and development are outlined, together with the model philosophy and testing strategy.