PRISM (Polarized Radiation Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission): a white paper on the ultimate polarimetric spectro-imaging of the microwave and far-infrared sky

Working paper

PRISM is a large-class mission that will carry out the ultimate survey of the microwave to far-infrared sky in both intensity and polarization, as well as measure its absolute spectrum. PRISM will consist of two instruments: (1) a high angular resolution polarimetric imager with a 3.5 m telescope cooled to around 4K to reduce thermal noise, particularly in the far-infrared bands; and (2) a low angular resolution spectrometer to compare the sky frequency spectrum to a near perfect reference blackbody. The joint exploitation of the data from these co-observing high-performance instruments will enable PRISM to make breakthrough contributions by answering key questions in many diverse areas of astrophysics and fundamental science. A few highlights of the new science with PRISM include:

Authors: PRISM Collaboration; Andre, P; Baccigalupi, C; Barbosa, D; Bartlett, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: ESA
• Host title: Cosmic Vision
• Volume: 2013
• Pages: 439-459
• Series: Cosmic Vision
• Publication date: 2013-07-06
• Paper number: 2013
• Keywords: SBTMR