Characterizing the correlation properties of the atmospheric emission in the 10-20 GHz range with QUIJOTE MFI data

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the correlation properties of atmospheric emission in the 10-20 GHz range using QUIJOTE MFI data, aiding in improved sky modeling for future microwave observations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed characterization of atmospheric signal correlations in the 10-20 GHz range based on extensive QUIJOTE MFI observations, supporting future observational planning.

Findings

Characterized atmospheric correlation properties across four frequency bands.

Results will improve sky emission models at microwave frequencies.

Findings assist in planning future microwave sky surveys.

Abstract

The QUIJOTE MFI instrument (2012-2018) observed the sky at four frequency bands, namely 11, 13, 17 and 19GHz, at 1 degree angular resolution. Using around 10000 h of observations in the so-called nominal mode, QUIJOTE MFI produced sky maps covering approximately 29000 deg2. Here we use the full database of MFI wide survey observations to characterize the correlation properties of the atmospheric signal in those frequency bands. This information will be useful to improve the current sky models at these frequencies, and could be used in further MFI reanalyses, or for the preparation of future observations at these frequencies (e.g., MFI2 and the Tenerife Microwave Spectrometer).