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Antenna design for the xNTD
workshop
ATNF Headquarters Marsfield, NSW |
|
Background
CSIRO ATNF’s extended
New Technology Demonstrator (xNTD) project will build an array of 20 radio
telescopes, each equipped with a focal plane array (FPA). The xNTD will form a new radio telescope
facility and will be based at Mileura in
The antennas
are a critical element in the xNTD project; at the present time there is no
obvious design that meets the requirements.
ATNF has set up a project
to explore the technologies which will make the eventual giant SKA array
affordable. High on the list is the need
for both xNTD and the SKA are minimalist antennas, able to meet the technical
specifications, yet extremely modest in cost.
The xNTD
antennas will be between 12 and 20m in diameter and are to operate across the
500 MHz and 2.5 GHz frequency range.
The target
cost of one entire xNTD antenna (dish, mount and drive) is AUD 100k.
Invitation to Industry
We are
interested in contact from any parties interested in one or more parts of the
critical elements in an antenna
- Antenna mount & drive
system
- Antenna dish (backup structure
& surface panels)
These
elements are mounted on a simple pedestal column of either concrete or steel.
The levels of challenge for each
element vary -
The issue for the mount & drive
system is to provide both the bearings and the complex structure which supports
the bearings and motors. Previous
solutions include an alt-az mounts as on the ATCA (Narrabri) and Parkes,
equatorial mounts on the Fleurs radio telescope and a compact alt-az mount on the
Allen Telescope Array (ATA).
The
challenge for the dish surface is to produce a simple shaped paraboloid,
equipped with a prime focus focal plane support.
Date
The workshop will take place from
Venue
The symposium will be held in the CSIRO
ATNF
RSVP/Registration
Please email your full name and institute
address to Carole.Jackson@csiro.au
by
Format
of workshop
2.30pm Arrive, tea outside Marsfield LT
Inspect close-up the refurbished 13.8m
antennas built for the Fleurs radio telescope in the 1960’s which are
being used as the NTD test bed.
4.00pm Tea,
Q&A session with xNTD team.
Prior
knowledge assumed – none – Full
brief for the xNTD antennas
Factsheets on
the SKA project and CSIRO’s xNTD project
Expected
outcomes: Participants will understand
- The challenges within the xNTD
antennas spec (cost, performance etc)
- The demands for the xNTD
antennas
- Whether they are interested in preparing
a proposal to develop (prototype design study) any part (or parts) of the
xNTD antenna – subject to future negotiation with the xNTD project.
xNTD
Antenna Development Timeline
First discussions (this
workshop) mid September 2005
Preliminary Design
Prototype of antenna
Accommodation
Participants are asked to organise their
own accommodation. For a short stay, we suggest using one of the local
hotels/motels listed here.