Planck/LFI 30/44 GHz Sky Load Implementation

Abstract

Purpose of this note is to characterise the behaviour of the calibrator named ‘RCA SKY LOAD’(RCA-SL); the specific feature to investigate is the equivalent temperature seen by the feed. To do this, it needs both a radio-frequency and a thermal analysis, being the specific emissivity and the physical temperature of the load strictly tied. Only a combined unitary analysis can allow to maximise the radiometric emissivity and the thermal stability, taking into account radiometric fluctuations of the different parts arising from fluctuations of the reference temperature source.