<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Irbene RT-32 radio telescope is one of the main instruments operated by Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC), which is used for participation in VLBI and single-dish mode observations, including European VLBI Network (EVN) and other astronomy projects such as recently started research on small bodies of solar system, which involves weak spectral line detection at L-band. Since start of the operation as a radio telescope, single C-X band receiver has been available at RT-32, but regular demand for L-band frequencies has been received due to its importance in spectral line science. In case of RT-32 geometry, optimum dimensions of L-band feed antenna system are inconveniently large and its installation without significant feed cone rebuilding is complicated. While work is currently ongoing to redesign the feed cone for multiple receiver support and to develop high performance L-band feed system, temporal, compact and low-cost receiver has been built and installed laterally to secondary focus, which in sense of performance and functionality has been proven to be appropriate for most of the current needs. Receiver is based on small parabolic reflector allowing one to use a compact dual circular polarized horn antenna, which together with a Cassegrain antenna forms a three-mirror system. Front-end is uncooled that allows reducing operational and maintenance costs, while still providing acceptable noise performance. Practical tests show average overall sensitivity of 750 Jy at 1650 MHz in terms of system effective flux density (<italic>SEFD</italic>). The paper describes the development of the receiver and presents the main results of performance characterization obtained at Irbene RT-32.</p></abstract>

Irbene RT-32 radio telescope is one of the main instruments operated by Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC), which is used for participation in VLBI and single-dish mode observations, including European VLBI Network (EVN) and other astronomy projects such as recently started research on small bodies of solar system, which involves weak spectral line detection at L-band. Since start of the operation as a radio telescope, single C-X band receiver has been available at RT-32, but regular demand for L-band frequencies has been received due to its importance in spectral line science. In case of RT-32 geometry, optimum dimensions of L-band feed antenna system are inconveniently large and its installation without significant feed cone rebuilding is complicated. While work is currently ongoing to redesign the feed cone for multiple receiver support and to develop high performance L-band feed system, temporal, compact and low-cost receiver has been built and installed laterally to secondary focus, which in sense of performance and functionality has been proven to be appropriate for most of the current needs. Receiver is based on small parabolic reflector allowing one to use a compact dual circular polarized horn antenna, which together with a Cassegrain antenna forms a three-mirror system. Front-end is uncooled that allows reducing operational and maintenance costs, while still providing acceptable noise performance. Practical tests show average overall sensitivity of 750 Jy at 1650 MHz in terms of system effective flux density (SEFD). The paper describes the development of the receiver and presents the main results of performance characterization obtained at Irbene RT-32.

Low-Cost L-Band Receiving System Front-End for Irbene RT-32 Cassegrain Radio Telescope

Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center”

Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Irbene RT-32 radio telescope is one of the main instruments operated by Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC), which is used for participation...

Low-Cost L-Band Receiving System Front-End for Irbene RT-32 Cassegrain Radio Telescope

Published Online: Jul 12, 2019

Page range: 50 - 61

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lpts-2019-0019

Keywords
feed antenna, radio telescope, receiver

© 2019 M. Bleiders et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Low-Cost L-Band Receiving System Front-End for Irbene RT-32 Cassegrain Radio Telescope

Published Online: Jul 12, 2019

Page range: 50 - 61

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lpts-2019-0019

Keywordsfeed antenna, radio telescope, receiver

© 2019 M. Bleiders et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
feed antenna, radio telescope, receiver