2009/12/01 by Jonathan Landon, Michael Elmer, Jacob Waldron +6 · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Antenna Design and Optimization #Aperture (computer memory) #Beamforming #Calibration #Interference (communication) #Noise (video) #Phased array #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Reflector (photography) #Sensitivity (control systems) #Sky #Superconducting and THz Device Technology #astro-ph.IM
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0004-6256/139/3/1154
19 pages, 13 figures
arxiv created 2009/12/01 · openalex publication_date 2010/02/11 · arxiv updated 2015/05/14 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Phased array feeds (PAFs) for reflector antennas offer the potential for increased reflector field of view and faster survey speeds. To address some of the development challenges that remain for scientifically useful PAFs, including calibration and beamforming algorithms, sensitivity optimization, and demonstration of wide field of view imaging, we report experimental results from a 19 element room temperature L-band PAF mounted on the Green Bank 20 Meter Telescope. Formed beams achieved an aperture efficiency of 69% and a system noise temperature of 66 K. Radio camera images of several sky regions are presented. We investigate the noise performance and sensitivity of the system as a function of elevation angle with statistically optimal beamforming and demonstrate cancelation of radio frequency interference sources with adaptive spatial filtering.