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A wide-band, active antenna system for long wavelength radio astronomy
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 16:41 authored by Hicks, BC, Paravastu-Dalal, N, Stewart, KP, Erickson, WC, Ray, PS, Kassim, NE, Burns, S, Clarke, T, Schmitt, H, Craig, J, Hartman, J, Weiler, KWWe describe an "active" antenna system for HF/VHF (long wavelength) radio astronomy that has been successfully deployed 256-fold as the first station (LWA1) of the planned Long Wavelength Array. The antenna system, consisting of crossed dipoles, an active balun/preamp, a support structure, and a ground screen has been shown to successfully operate over at least the band from 20 MHz (15 m wavelength) to 80 MHz (3.75 m wave- length) with a noise figure that is at least 6 dB better than the Galactic background emission-noise temperature over that band. Thus, we met the goal to design and construct a compact, inexpensive, rugged, and easily assembled antenna system that can be deployed many-fold to form numerous large individual "stations" for the purpose of building a large, long wavelength synthesis array telescope for radio astronomical and ionospheric observations.
History
Publication title
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the PacificVolume
124Issue
920Pagination
1090-1104ISSN
0004-6280Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Univ Chicago PressPlace of publication
1427 E 60Th St, Chicago, USA, Il, 60637-2954Rights statement
Copyright 2012 The Astronomical Society of the PacificRepository Status
- Restricted