A flexible, cost effective, broadband-receiver unit for the next generation radio telescopes

Author

Morawietz, J. ; Roosjen, J.F.N. ; Kant, G.W. ; De Vaate, J. G Bij

Author_Institution

ASTRON, Dwingeloo, Netherlands

fYear

2002

fDate

9-13 Sept. 2002

Firstpage

111

Lastpage

113

Abstract

The Thousand Element Array (THEA) is the latest in a series of demonstrator projects on the development path towards a next generation radio telescope, such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and the Low Frequency Array LOFAR. THEA is an outdoor phased array system that is able to detect several astronomical sources in the frequency band from 600 to 1700 MHz simultaneously in an environment with various RFI-sources. This article describes how high volume production issues like component and manufacturing costs change the design philosophy of modern radio telescopes. As an example, the development of the receiver unit for the THEA demonstrator is depicted. Measurement results of the performance are presented. The article ends with outcomes from THEAs "First Light" measurement campaign.

Keywords

UHF antennas; antenna phased arrays; radio receivers; radiofrequency interference; radiotelescopes; receiving antennas; 600 to 1700 MHz; LOFAR; Low Frequency Array; SKA; Square Kilometer Array; THEA demonstrator; Thousand Element Array; astronomical sources; component costs; design philosophy; environment RFI-sources; flexible broadband-receiver unit; frequency band; manufacturing costs; outdoor phased array system; radio telescopes; volume production; Costs; Extraterrestrial measurements; Manufacturing; Optical design; Phase detection; Phase frequency detector; Phased arrays; Production; Radio astronomy; Receivers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Microwave and Telecommunication Technology, 2002. CriMiCo 2002. 12th International Conference

Print_ISBN

966-7968-12-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CRMICO.2002.1137167

Filename

1137167