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

合作研究：用于脉冲星、扩散氢和 GBT 快速瞬态测量的宽视场 L 波段焦平面阵列波束形成器

• 批准号: 1309832
• 负责人: Karl Warnick
• 金额: $ 58.61万
• 依托单位: Brigham Young University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1309832&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Wide; Field; band

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.

射电望远镜的功率，就像光学望远镜的功率一样，与它可以在单个“图像”中有效观测的天空区域直接相关。 在光波长范围内，多像素探测器的出现彻底改变了天文科学。 由于技术原因，射电望远镜在像素数方面落后了，但现在正在努力关闭部分地面。 该计划旨在继续开发与无线电波长密切相似的技术进步，这将允许在望远镜焦平面上密集排列无线电波长探测器，从而对天空中的天体物理目标进行良好采样的图片。这里使用的方法是设计和构建高性能相控阵馈源（PAF）。 该项目旨在开发、部署和利用格林班克望远镜（GBT）上的工作系统，尽管该技术在非常广泛的望远镜中受到关注。 预计成品系统的性能将是世界上最高的，就系统部署时间而言，这也可能是世界领先的努力。 成功的系统将使 GBT 的 L 波段映射速度提高三倍。 将探讨干扰抑制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新兴重要领域的领导地位，特别是在信号处理和算法开发方面，从而保持在相控阵领域的竞争力。 这项工作将包括通过让本科生和研究生参与指导性研究，对下一代工程师进行大量培训。 学生研究助理将在 NRAO 设施中度过几周或几个月的时间，以“亲身实践”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 天文科学部通过其先进技术和仪器计划提供。