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: 1309815
• 负责人: Daniel Pisano
• 金额: $ 55.43万
• 依托单位: West Virginia University Research Corporation
• 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=1309815&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.

射程望远镜的功率，例如光望远镜的功能，与可以在“单个图像”中有效调查的天空区域直接相关。 在光学波长下，多像素探测器的出现彻底改变了天文学。 出于技术原因，射电望远镜在此像素计数中落后了，但是现在正在努力努力弥补这一基础。 该计划旨在继续开发无线电波长的紧密相似的技术进步，该技术将允许在望远镜焦平面上近距离包装的无线电波长探测器，并因此在天空中的天体物理靶标的清采样图片。 该项目旨在开发，然后在绿色银行望远镜（GBT）上进行现场并利用一个工作系统，尽管该技术在非常广泛的望远镜方面引起了人们的关注。 预计完成的系统的性能将是世界上最高的，这也可能是世界领先的努力，就系统的范围而言。 成功的系统将使GBT的L波段映射速度增加三倍。 将探讨相关问题，例如缓解和信号处理。该项目将有助于在无线电技术的新兴和重要领域中保持我们的领导地位，尤其是在信号处理和算法开发方面，从而在阶段数组社区内保持竞争力。 这项工作将包括通过参与本科生和研究生参与指导研究的大量培训。 学生研究助理将在NRAO设施中花费数周或几个月的时间，以“动手”时尚，学习技能对美国科学基础架构至关重要的学习技能。