Title :
Efficiency measurement techniques for calibration of a prototype 34-meter-diameter beam-waveguide antenna at 8.45 and 32 GHz
Author :
Slobin, Stephen D. ; Otoshi, Tom Y. ; Britcliffe, Michael J. ; Alvarez, Leon S. ; Stewart, Scott R. ; Franco, Manuel M.
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
fDate :
6/1/1992 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Efficiency measurements at 8.45 and 32 GHz (X- and Ka -bands) have been carried out on a new 34-m-diameter beam-waveguide antenna now in use at the NASA/JPL Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex. The use of portable test packages enabled measurements at both the Cassegrain and the beam-waveguide focal points. Radio sources (quasars and Venus) were used as calibrators, and updated determinations of flux and source size correction were made during the period of the measurements. Gain and efficiency determinations as a function of elevation angle are presented, and the effects of the beam-waveguide system and antenna structure are clearly seen. At the beam-waveguide focus, an 8.45-GHz peak efficiency of 72.38% was measured; at 32 GHz, 44.89% was measured
Keywords :
calibration; radiotelescopes; reflector antennas; waveguide antennas; 32 GHz; 34 m; 44.89 percent; 72.38 percent; 8.45 GHz; Cassegrain focal points; NASA/JPL Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex; Venus; antenna structure; beam-waveguide antenna; beam-waveguide focal points; calibration; calibrators; efficiency determinations; elevation angle; flux correction; portable test packages; quasars; source size correction; Antenna measurements; Calibration; Extraterrestrial measurements; Measurement techniques; NASA; Packaging; Prototypes; Size measurement; Testing; Venus;
Journal_Title :
Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on
