Technology development for the ExaVolt Antenna (EVA) suborbital ultra-high energy particle observatory

Abstract

We describe technology development for the ExaVolt Antenna (EVA) mission, a planned ultra-high energy (UHE) particle observatory under development for NASA's suborbital super-pressure balloon program in Antarctica. The design is based on a novel application of toroidal reflector optics which utilizes a super-pressure balloon surface, along with a feed-array mounted on an inner membrane, to create an ultra-large radio antenna system with a synoptic view of the Antarctic ice sheet below it.

The ExaVolt Antenna Mission Concept and Technology Developments

“…Radio reflector antennas based on a toroidal geometry were first described by Kelleher and Hibbs in 1953 [20], and Peeler and Archer in 1954 [21] and summary analyses may be found in several modern antenna textbooks [22]. Further details of our design process can be found in [9] and [23].…”

“…PB was used also to create the 1/20th scale EVA balloon design as specified by the EVA team. The simulated balloon is based on the Euler-elastica, which is the analytically derived curve for the SPB surface [23]. It assumes 280 total gores, consistent with the 18.7 Mcft balloon.…”