A New Radome for the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory 14 Meter Telescope

该合同提供了部分资金，用于升级五所大学射电天文台(FCRAO)14米望远镜周围的空间框架和天线罩薄膜。马萨诸塞州正在提供配套资金。在过去三年中，面板对准、指向和环境系统的改进导致了一种能够在短至1.1毫米的波长下高效工作的天线。天气统计数据、测量的衰减数据和观测经验支持Quabbin站点一年中有4个月进行短毫米(Mm)波长观测。在受人尊敬的首席调查员的指导下，用最近上市的机织聚四氟乙烯层压板取代目前的雷达罩-薄膜织物，将导致2毫米和7毫米波长的系统效率显著提高，以及3毫米窗口的显著改善。与FCRAO现有的或正在开发的最先进的接收器一起，完全升级的系统将在短毫米波长上提供角分辨率和灵敏度，与其他国家运营或计划的设施相比具有竞争力。该项目的技术应用也具有重要意义。金属天线框雷达罩在世界各地的民用和军用应用中被广泛用于保护通信系统和雷达。这里提出的雷达罩将是该类型中的第一个，对于短毫米波长和亚毫米系统来说是一个真正的创新。此外，它在FCRAO的安装将为开发用于这些波长的坚固、多功能、最先进的电子设备以及对研究生进行这项技术的培训提供天文“试验台”的重要改进。

This award provides partial funding to upgrade the spaceframe and radome membrane enclosing the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) 14-meter telescope. Matching funds are being provided by Massachusetts. Improvements of the panel alignment, pointing, and environmental systems during the past 3 years have resulted in an antenna capable of efficient operation at wavelengths as short as 1.1 mm. Weather statistics, measured attenuation data, and observing experience support the utility of the Quabbin site for short millimeter (mm)-wavelength observation for 4 months of the year. Under the direction of the respected Principal Investigator, the replacement of the present radome-membrane fabric with a woven teflon laminate, which has recently become available, will result in a dramatic improvement in system efficiencies at wavelengths 2 mm and 7 mm, as well as a significant improvement in the 3 mm window. Together with the state-of-the art receivers available or under development at FCRAO, the fully upgraded system will offer angular resolution and sensitivity at short millimeter wavelengths that are competitive with facilities operated or planned by other countries. Technological applications of this project are also significant. Metal spaceframe radomes are widely used to protect communication systems and radars in both civilian and military applications around the world. The radome proposed here would be the first of its type, a real innovation for short millimeter-wavelength and sub-millimeter systems. In addition, its installation at FCRAO will provide an important improvement in the astronomical "testbed" for the development of rugged, versatile, state-of-the-art electronics for use at these wavelengths, and in the training of graduate students in this technology.