The LSPE-Strip Experiment

08/03/2021

LSPE (Large Scale Polarzation Experiment) is a novel project that combines ground-based (STRIP) and balloon-borne (SWIPE) polarization measurements of the microwave sky on large angular scales to attempt a detection of the “B-modes” of the Cosmic Microwave Background polarization.

The STRIP experiment will observe approximately 25% of the Northern sky from the “Observatorio del Teide” in Tenerife, using an array of forty-nine coherent polarimeters at 43 GHz, coupled to a 1.5 m fully rotating crossed-Dragone telescope.  A second frequency channel with six-elements at 95 GHz will be exploited as an atmospheric monitor. The detectors are cooled down to 20 K to minimze the thermal noise and to permit high precision measurements of the microwave sky.

The Cryowaves team at OAS  is managing and executing the system level tests of the STRIP Focal Plane Array and Cryostat and has the system engineering role both of the instrument and of the telescope.