A proposed new design for a large radio telescope

Abstract

Abstract. A new type of radio telescope is proposed which may make very large telescopes more affordable. The telescope is considered to be one of several identical elements that form a synthesis array. It is composed of an almost flat primary reflector that is slightly adjustable in shape and made up of identical square flat panels supported by the ground. A very long focal length imposes the unusual condition that the receiver be carried by an airborne vehicle such as a powered, helium-filled balloon. The position of the balloon is measured and controlled as accurately as possible and residual errors in the balloon's position are dealt with in two ways. Errors of a few metres are corrected by moving the receiver feed point electronically. Larger errors are corrected by adjusting the primary reflector so as to move its focal point to follow the balloon. These features maintain telescope efficiency and correct pointing so long as the balloon lies anywhere within a large volume surrounding its ideal position. The problem of controlling the balloon position is thereby substantially eased. The telescope has the wide sky coverage needed for synthesis observations and an estimated optimum diameter in the range 100 to 300 m. It will operate from decimetre to short centimetre wavelengths, or, with smaller panels, millimetre wavelengths.

Fast Fourier transform telescope

“…4 However, an interesting design for which this might be feasible has been proposed in [34], where an almost flat telescope rests close to the ground and the focal plane is carried by a steerable Helium balloon. 5 If Earth were a perfect sphere of radius R ≈ 6400 km, then a planar telescope of radius r would be a height…”

Multiobjective Shape Optimization for Deployment and Adjustment Properties of Cable-Net of Deployable Antenna

“…Cable-net structure has been widely used in space deployable antenna for light weight, high precision, and small stowed size [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The deployable antenna studied in this paper mainly consists of three parts: reflector surface cable-net system, rigid beam system, and center truss.…”

The Large Adaptive Reflector: A Giant Radio Telescope with an Aero Twist

“…As is the case with some other radio telescopes, the Canadian proposal for the SKA design consists of an array of 30-50 individual antennas whose signals are combined to yield the resolution of a much larger antenna. Each of these antennas would use the Large Adaptive Reflector (LAR) concept put forward by a group led by the National Research Council of Canada and supported by university and industry collaborators (Legg, 1998).…”