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

射电望远镜的功率，就像光学望远镜的功率一样，直接与它可以在单个“图像”中有效地调查的天空区域有关。 在光波段，多像素探测器的出现彻底改变了天文学。 由于技术原因，射电望远镜在这方面已经落后了，但现在正在努力关闭一些地面。 该计划的目标是继续发展一种与无线电波长非常相似的技术进步，这将允许在望远镜焦平面上安装密集的无线电波长探测器阵列，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建造一个高性能相控阵馈源（PAF）。 该项目的目的是开发，然后现场和利用绿色银行望远镜（GBT）的工作系统，虽然该技术是在非常广泛的望远镜感兴趣。 完成的系统的性能预计将是世界上最高的，这也可能是一个世界领先的努力，在时间方面，该系统可以现场。 一个成功的系统将使GBT的L波段映射速度增加两倍。 将探讨干扰缓解和信号处理等相关问题。该项目将有助于保持美国在无线电技术这一新兴且重要领域的领导地位，特别是在信号处理和算法开发方面，从而保持在相控阵界的竞争力。 这项工作将包括通过本科生和研究生参与指导研究，为下一代工程师提供大量培训。 学生研究助理将在NRAO设施中花费数周或数月的时间，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的天文科学部门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.