The ALMA project at Arcetri

• Front end: Warm optics for the first 4 bands. In particular Arcetri has designed the feeds for bands 1 (31.4-45 GHz), 2 (69-90 GHz) and 3 (84-116 GHz). A prototype of the 100 GHz feed is shown here (click on the picture for a larger image).

  

• Backend: Arcetri is involved in the sampler design. In particular, a fast sample/hold circuit and a 1:8 demultiplexer have been designed using GaAs technology.

  

• Correlator: A digital filter design for the Second Generation Correlator has been studied. The filter allows an arbitrary portion of the input 2 GHz band to be selected. A bank of 32 of these filters have been included in the baseline correlator, to increase its spectral performances.