Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility Study
The Sardinia Radio Telescope is a quasi-Gregorian system with a shaped 64 m diameter primary reflector and a 7.9 m diameter secondary reflector. It was designed to operate with high efficiency across the 0.3–116 GHz frequency range. The telescope is equipped with a cryogenic coaxial dual-frequency L...
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/11/4261 |
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| author | Adelaide Ladu Luca Schirru Francesco Gaudiomonte Pasqualino Marongiu Gianmarco Angius Federico Perini Gian Paolo Vargiu |
| author_facet | Adelaide Ladu Luca Schirru Francesco Gaudiomonte Pasqualino Marongiu Gianmarco Angius Federico Perini Gian Paolo Vargiu |
| author_sort | Adelaide Ladu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Sardinia Radio Telescope is a quasi-Gregorian system with a shaped 64 m diameter primary reflector and a 7.9 m diameter secondary reflector. It was designed to operate with high efficiency across the 0.3–116 GHz frequency range. The telescope is equipped with a cryogenic coaxial dual-frequency L-P band receiver, which covers a portion of the P-band (305–410 MHz) and the L-band (1300–1800 MHz). Although this receiver has been used for years in its original design, with satisfactory results, it presents some parts that could be upgraded in order to improve the performances of the system. With the passing of time and with technology advances, the presence of unwanted human-made signals in the area around the telescope, known as radio frequency interferences, has grown exponentially. In addition, the technology of the receiver electronic control system became obsolete and it could be replaced with next-generation electronic boards, which offer better performances both service reliability and low generation of unwanted radio frequency signals. In this paper, a feasibility study for improving the L-P band receiver is discussed, taking into account the mitigation of the main radio frequency interferences. With this study, it is possible to have a sensitive instrument that can be used for scientific research at low frequencies (P- and L-bands), which are usually populated by signals from civil and military mobile communications, TV broadcasting and remote sensing applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:50:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-73024b90676645f2b902be718af82bd9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:50:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-73024b90676645f2b902be718af82bd92023-11-23T14:51:07ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-06-012211426110.3390/s22114261Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility StudyAdelaide Ladu0Luca Schirru1Francesco Gaudiomonte2Pasqualino Marongiu3Gianmarco Angius4Federico Perini5Gian Paolo Vargiu6National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, Via della Scienza, 5, 09047 Selargius, ItalyNational Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, Via della Scienza, 5, 09047 Selargius, ItalyNational Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, Via della Scienza, 5, 09047 Selargius, ItalyNational Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, Via della Scienza, 5, 09047 Selargius, ItalyNational Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, Via della Scienza, 5, 09047 Selargius, ItalyNational Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Istituto di Radioastronomia (IRA), Via Fiorentina, 3513, 40059 Medicina, ItalyNational Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, Via della Scienza, 5, 09047 Selargius, ItalyThe Sardinia Radio Telescope is a quasi-Gregorian system with a shaped 64 m diameter primary reflector and a 7.9 m diameter secondary reflector. It was designed to operate with high efficiency across the 0.3–116 GHz frequency range. The telescope is equipped with a cryogenic coaxial dual-frequency L-P band receiver, which covers a portion of the P-band (305–410 MHz) and the L-band (1300–1800 MHz). Although this receiver has been used for years in its original design, with satisfactory results, it presents some parts that could be upgraded in order to improve the performances of the system. With the passing of time and with technology advances, the presence of unwanted human-made signals in the area around the telescope, known as radio frequency interferences, has grown exponentially. In addition, the technology of the receiver electronic control system became obsolete and it could be replaced with next-generation electronic boards, which offer better performances both service reliability and low generation of unwanted radio frequency signals. In this paper, a feasibility study for improving the L-P band receiver is discussed, taking into account the mitigation of the main radio frequency interferences. With this study, it is possible to have a sensitive instrument that can be used for scientific research at low frequencies (P- and L-bands), which are usually populated by signals from civil and military mobile communications, TV broadcasting and remote sensing applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/11/4261Sardinia Radio Telescoperadio astronomy cryogenic receiversradio frequency interferencesmicrowave components for radio astronomy applications |
| spellingShingle | Adelaide Ladu Luca Schirru Francesco Gaudiomonte Pasqualino Marongiu Gianmarco Angius Federico Perini Gian Paolo Vargiu Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility Study Sensors Sardinia Radio Telescope radio astronomy cryogenic receivers radio frequency interferences microwave components for radio astronomy applications |
| title | Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility Study |
| title_full | Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility Study |
| title_fullStr | Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility Study |
| title_short | Upgrading of the L-P Band Cryogenic Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Feasibility Study |
| title_sort | upgrading of the l p band cryogenic receiver of the sardinia radio telescope a feasibility study |
| topic | Sardinia Radio Telescope radio astronomy cryogenic receivers radio frequency interferences microwave components for radio astronomy applications |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/11/4261 |
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