Alignment Verification of the PLANCK Reflector Configuration by RCS Measurements at 320 GHz

In the Flight Model (FM) of the PLANCK telescope, the feed horns are connected to either HEMTs or bolometers operating at cryogenic temperatures to detect the Cosmic Microwave Background radiometric signal. For the purpose of an overall alignment verification at ambient temperature, RCS measurements have been performed using an auxiliary feed horn that is terminated with a switching diode. This verification test has been conducted at 320 GHz, to benefit from the narrow beam and a high sensitivity to misalignment. To perform the RCS measurements, an additional "circulator" with low propagation loss and high isolation from transmit to return channel had to be developed. Besides that, the circulator also co-locates the phase centres of both Tx and Rx range antennas on the focal point of the CATR, which allows mono-static RCS measurements. Quasi-optical techniques have been used to design a circulator that meets these requirements. To test the feasibility of determining the feed location from the RCS measurements with an uncertainty of plusmn1 mm, a test campaign was conducted with the so called RF Qualification Model (RFQM). In this campaign, 9 feed locations with 1 mm separation were tested. With the Flight Model, the test was on the critical path of the planning and only one test could be conducted to verify the overall alignment.