ATA/SKA Issues
This document discusses the performance characteristics and design considerations for the ATA and SKA antennas, focusing on the log-periodic feed with a frequency range of 0.5-11 GHz. It highlights gain versus frequency characteristics, expected system temperature (Tsys) calculations, optimum antenna diameter for cost-effective survey sensitivity, and the benefits of using an offset Gregorian design for reduced sidelobes. Additionally, it outlines the implications of various optical designs, beam patterns, and pointing requirements to ensure high-quality observational data.
ATA/SKA Issues
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Presentation Transcript
ATA/SKA Issues Jack Welch
ATA Feed Gain vs. Frequency G0 = 11.5 ± 1dB
Expected Tsys for ATA Tsys ˚K = 8 + 6.3√f(GHz) +7 + 7 +2.7 + 3 √f(GHz) (f(GHz))2.7 Galaxy Diffractive spillover Ohmic losses LNA CMB Atmosphere + geometric spillover
Optimum Antenna DiameterSKA Memo #78 • Array of n antennas, each with diameter D total observing time T, point source sensitivity Sfor single pointing for survey • Array cost for single pointingfor survey
Optimum Antenna Diameter (more)SKA Memo #78 • Differentiate with respect to D to find the minimum cost for the array for single pointing for survey
ATA Antenna Constraints • Feed Frequency Range: .5 GHz–11.2 GHz • Feed Focus: s = 1.4 λ • Feed focal ratio: .65 • Feed Gain: 11.5 db • Antenna Diameter ~ 6m
Optical Design • Key reference paper by Per-Simon Kildal PGAP, AP-31, #6 November 1983 • Aperture efficiency for two mirror system is • ηIllis the illuminating efficiency; d is the secondary diameter; D is the primary; Cb is 1 for uniform illumination, ~1.5 for -10 dB taper. Cd Cb/π. The middle term is the aperture blockage. The third term is the edge diffraction loss. A0 is the amplitude edge illumination.
Optical Design (continued) • An optimum primary diameter for array survey sensitivity S∞ ND, with a modern wideband, single pixel feed system is ~ 6 m • The secondary mirror should be no smaller than about 4 λ, 2.4 mfor the longest wavelength of 60 cm. • The blockage is large, and the diffractive sidelobes are high for symmetric Cassegrain with these reflector sizes • An offset Gregorian is the better choice, which removes the middle term from the aperture efficiency expression and gives the low sidelobes of a clear aperture.
Paraxial Patterns Prime Focus Cassegrain Offset Gregorian Offset Gregorian Beam Angle Beam Angle
ATA Optics: Offset Gregorian 6m primary Radome Shroud Log-periodic Feed with Actuator 2.4m secondary
Shroud Effects • Echoes from the feed Pr = G2(90) Pi 10 radius = -42 dB @ =500 MHz • Primary Beam Waste: 4 bw 2 • Secondary Beam Waste: 4 bw 3
Antenna properties • Surface RMS: 0.7mm (ok for 24 GHz) • Aperture Efficiency: 0.6 • Low side lobes from clear aperture • Feed at F/.65 • Good overall gain with feed at 6 GHz focus
Holographic Measurements at 4 GHz Phase Amplitude
The Antenna Pattern At 2.3 GHz
Spillover vs. Zenith Angle Tsys Zenith Angle
Antenna PropertiesOffset Gregorian ATA • Surface accuracy 0.7 mm RMS (λ/20 @ 21GHz) • Primary field of view 3.5º/f (GHz) • Primary reflector blockage by secondary ≤ 2% • Secondary diam = 2.4 m or 4 λ @ 500 MHz • Optical pointing 10” RMS • Assembly: 8 person days • Tipping curve 20 10 0 * Excess Temperature (K) * See slide show Elevation
Pointing Requirements • Basic interferometry • Single Antenna • Multiple pointing interferometry (mosaicing)
Single antenna transfer function Zero-spacing Problem Multiple-pointing array transfer function β= √u2+v2 D/λ
Effect Of Pointing Errors • With pointing errors δx and δy • The effective transfer function is now • At β = D/2λ, the expected value of • is 0.93 for σθ/Θ=0.1, a 0.1 beamwidth pointing error • The same error results from the interferometry • Altogether, 1/30th beamwidth pointing is required for map errors to be less than 10%
Single antenna transfer function Filling In The Zero-spacing WithLarger Antennas 4d 3d 2d D = d array antenna diameter β= √u2+v2 D/λ