Planck 2015 results. II. Low Frequency Instrument data processing

TL;DR

This paper details the updated data processing pipeline for the Planck Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) used in the 2015 data release, including new polarization maps and validation methods.

Contribution

It provides an updated, self-consistent data processing pipeline for LFI, incorporating new polarization data and detailed validation for the 2015 release.

Findings

First polarization maps in Stokes Q and U produced

Pipeline validated through extensive null tests

Demonstrates consistency with previous methods

Abstract

We present an updated description of the Planck Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) data processing pipeline, associated with the 2015 data release. We point out the places where our results and methods have remained unchanged since the 2013 paper and we highlight the changes made for the 2015 release, describing the products (especially timelines) and the ways in which they were obtained. We demonstrate that the pipeline is self-consistent (principally based on simulations) and report all null tests. For the first time, we present LFI maps in Stokes Q and U polarization. We refer to other related papers where more detailed descriptions of the LFI data processing pipeline may be found if needed.