Demonstration of a Generic Local Oscillator System for ALMA Band 2+3

ALMA 频段 2 3 通用本地振荡器系统演示

• 批准号: ST/M003957/1
• 负责人: Gary Fuller
• 金额: $ 8.36万
• 依托单位: University of Manchester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2015 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FM003957%2F1
• 关键词: Demonstration; Generic; Local; Oscillator; System

The Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) is a world-class astronomical observatory operating in the millimetre and submillimetre wavelength range. It provides astronomers with an observing tool of unprecedented spatial resolution and sensitivity. ALMA will allow investigation of fundamental process associated with stellar and planetary formation, and galactic and extra-galactic evolution, revolutionising our understanding of how the Universe evolves. The UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has long recognised the importance of ALMA within its strategic science plan, and has supported its development and construction through its membership of, and support for, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), which provides leadership of the ALMA project within Europe.ALMA is now a functional instrument and is delivering high-grade science. However, it is not complete, and important technical upgrades are needed before it can reach its full, and originally planned, potential. For example, although the main production phase of the array has been successfully completed, and the return of science has already begun, ALMA presently lacks its proposed full frequency coverage and this is limiting its observational capability. Through a previous grant awarded to the UK by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the University of Manchester has led a European consortium design study group during the conceptual development phase of a new ALMA receiver band, which both extends the operational frequency of the array to include Band 2, and provides increased operational efficiency through a simultaneous merger with the pre-existing Band 3. The new receiver band is currently designated Band 2+3, and it is the objective of this proposal to develop key and related Band 2+3 systems technology that provide a vital step towards its realisation as a new ALMA detection facility. We are therefore seeking Project Research and Development (PRD) resource to support a 21-month technical development activity that will establish the foundations of the new Band 2+3 through the manufacture and test of core technology, viz. a new and generic local oscillator (LO). During the course of our project, we will also demonstrate enhanced low noise amplifier (LNA) technology and prove a related, and critical, signal frequency mixing down-conversion stage. A core objective of our programme of work is therefore to ensure that Band 2+3 is adopted as a technical concept by the ALMA Project through the raising of its technical readiness status from a current level of 3, to a significantly higher level approaching that of 6. This would be followed by an ESO funded prototyping and deployment phase to be completed within a 10-year timescale. Our activity will mean that ALMA gains increased observational capacity and improved operational infrastructure; ESO is placed in an excellent position to lead the new receiver concept within the international ALMA Project, and the UK is assured of gaining a leading technical role in a future prototype and full production programme, which also offers excellent potential for significant UK industrial involvement.

阿塔卡马大型毫米/亚毫米阵列（ALMA）是一个世界级的天文台，工作在毫米和亚毫米波长范围内。它为天文学家提供了前所未有的空间分辨率和灵敏度的观测工具。ALMA将允许研究与恒星和行星形成、星系和星系外演化相关的基本过程，彻底改变我们对宇宙演化的理解。英国科学技术设施委员会（STFC）早就认识到ALMA在其战略科学计划中的重要性，并通过其成员资格和对欧洲南方天文台（ESO）的支持来支持其发展和建设，ESO在欧洲范围内领导ALMA项目。ALMA现在是一个功能齐全的仪器，正在提供高水平的科学研究。然而，它还没有完成，在充分发挥其最初计划的潜力之前，需要进行重要的技术升级。例如，虽然阵列的主要生产阶段已经成功完成，科学的回归已经开始，但ALMA目前缺乏其提议的全频率覆盖范围，这限制了它的观测能力。通过欧洲南方天文台（ESO）先前授予英国的一笔拨款，曼彻斯特大学在新的ALMA接收器频段的概念开发阶段领导了一个欧洲财团设计研究小组，该研究小组将阵列的工作频率扩展到包括波段2，并通过同时合并现有的波段3提供更高的操作效率。新的接收频段目前被指定为波段2+3，该提案的目标是开发关键的和相关的波段2+3系统技术，为其作为新的ALMA探测设施的实现提供重要的一步。因此，我们正在寻求项目研发（PRD）资源，以支持为期21个月的技术开发活动，该活动将通过制造和测试核心技术，即新的通用本地振荡器（LO），为新的2+3波段奠定基础。在我们的项目过程中，我们还将演示增强型低噪声放大器（LNA）技术，并证明一个相关的、关键的信号混频下变频阶段。因此，我们工作计划的核心目标是通过将ALMA项目的技术准备状态从目前的3级提高到接近6级的更高水平，确保波段2+3被作为技术概念采用。随后是ESO资助的原型设计和部署阶段，将在10年内完成。我们的活动将意味着ALMA获得更高的观测能力和改进的业务基础设施；ESO在国际ALMA项目中处于领导新接收器概念的绝佳位置，英国保证在未来的原型和全面生产计划中获得领先的技术作用，这也为英国重要的工业参与提供了极好的潜力。

项目成果

The Science Case for ALMA Band 2 and Band 2+3

ALMA Band 2 和 Band 2 3 的科学案例

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1602.02414
• 发表时间: 2016
• 期刊: arXiv e-prints
• 作者: Fuller G. A.

Wideband 67-116 GHz cryogenic receiver development for ALMA Band 2

为 ALMA Band 2 开发宽带 67-116 GHz 低温接收器

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1812.03575
• 发表时间: 2018
• 期刊: arXiv e-prints
• 作者: Yagoubov P.

Cryogenic low noise MMIC amplifiers for U-Band (40-60 GHz)

适用于 U 频段 (40-60 GHz) 的低温低噪声 MMIC 放大器

• DOI: 10.1109/eumic.2016.7777495
• 发表时间: 2016
• 作者: Samoska L

Wide Bandwidth Considerations for ALMA Band 2

ALMA Band 2 的宽带宽注意事项

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1905.09064
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: arXiv e-prints
• 作者: Mroczkowski Tony

Broadband MMIC LNAs for ALMA Band 2+3 With Noise Temperature Below 28 K

• DOI: 10.1109/tmtt.2016.2639018
• 发表时间: 2017-01
• 期刊: IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
• 影响因子: 4.3
• 作者: D. Cuadrado-Calle;D. George;G. Fuller;K. Cleary;L. Samoska;P. Kangaslahti;J. Kooi;M. Soria;M. Varonen;R. Lai;X. Mei