The simultaneous mapping of the sky over a wide frequency range by PLANCK will permit a separation of Galactic and
extragalactic foregrounds from the primordial cosmological signal to exquisite precision over much of the sky.
PLANCK will operate in a survey mode, scanning the whole sky twice over in 12 months.
High resolution (FWHM~5'-30') maps of the sky in 9 frequency bands in the range 30--1000 GHz
will be made generally available within a year of the end of the survey, providing the community with
all-sky data of unprecedented quality at frequencies that have hitherto been little explored.
Planck is composed of two instruments:
(1) the Low Frequency Instrument (or LFI) - an array of tuned radio receivers,
based on HEMT amplifier technology, and covering the frequency range ~30 - 100 GHz; and
(2) the High Frequency Instrument (or HFI) - an array of bolometers covering the frequency
range ~100 - 850 GHz.
Canada contributes both to LFI and HFI but the efforts at CITA
are focussed on HFI.
CITA is responsible for the development of the Quick Look Analysis software of HFI.
CITA members are also active members of several Planck Science Working Groups on
component separation, non-gaussianity, diffuse emission simulations and interstellar medium physics.
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