Collaborative Research: Wide-Field L-band Focal Plane Array Beamformer for Pulsar, Diffuse Hydrogen, and Fast Transient Surveys on the GBT

射电望远镜的威力就像光学望远镜的威力一样，直接关系到它能在一张“图像”中有效地探测到的天空区域。在光学波长上，多像素探测器的出现使天文科学发生了革命性的变化。由于技术上的原因，射电望远镜在这一像素数上落后了，但现在正在专心致志地关闭这片土地的一部分。该计划旨在继续发展类似的射电波长技术进步，允许在望远镜焦平面上密集排列射电波长探测器阵列，从而获得天空中天体物理目标的良好采样图像。这里使用的方法是设计和构造高性能相控阵馈源(PAF)。该项目旨在开发、现场和利用绿岸望远镜(GBT)上的工作系统，尽管这项技术对非常广泛的望远镜感兴趣。完成后的系统的性能预计将是世界上最高的，这也可能是世界领先的努力，就系统可以部署的时间而言。一个成功的系统将使L波段的测绘速度达到GBT的三倍。将探讨相关问题，如干扰缓解和信号处理。该项目将有助于保持美国在一个新兴和重要的无线电技术领域的领导地位，特别是在信号处理和算法开发方面，从而保持相控阵社区的竞争力。这一努力将包括通过本科生和研究生参与指导研究，对下一代工程师进行实质性培训。学生研究助理将在NRAO的设施中花费几周或几个月的时间，以“动手”的方式熟悉天文仪器，学习对美国科学基础设施至关重要的技能。该项目的资金由NSF的天文科学部通过其先进技术和仪器计划提供。

The power of a radio telescope, like the power of an optical telescope, is directly related to the region of sky that it can efficiently survey in a single "image". At optical wavelengths the advent of multi-pixel detectors has revolutionized astronomical science. Radio telescopes have lagged behind in this pixel-count, for technical reasons, but now dedicated efforts are underway to close some of this ground. This program aims to continue the development of a closely analogous technical advance for radio wavelengths, which will permit close-packed arrays of radio-wavelength detectors in the telescope focal plane, and thus well-sampled pictures of astrophysical targets in the sky.The approach used here is to design and construct a high-performance phased array feed (PAF). The project aims to develop, then field and utilize a working system on the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), although the technology is of interest at a very wide range of telescopes. The performance of the finished system is anticipated to be the highest in the world, and this will potentially also be a world-leading effort in terms of the timing with which the system could be fielded. A successful system would triple the L-band mapping speed of the GBT. Associated issues, such as interference mitigation and signal processing, will be explored.This project will help to maintain US leadership in an emerging and important area of radio technology, particularly in signal processing and algorithm development, and thus maintain competitiveness within the phased array community. This effort will include substantial training for the next generation of engineers through involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in mentored research. Student research assistants will spend several weeks or months at NRAO facilities to become familiar with astronomical instrumentation in a "hands-on" fashion, learning skills critical to the US scientific infrastructure.Funding for this project is being provided by NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences through its Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation program.