The ALMA phasing system: A beamforming capability for ultra-high-resolution science at (sub)millimeter wavelengths
Journal article, 2018

The Atacama Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Phasing Project (APP) has developed and deployed the hardware and software necessary to coherently sum the signals of individual ALMA antennas and record the aggregate sum in Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Data Exchange Format. These beamforming capabilities allow the ALMA array to collectively function as the equivalent of a single large aperture and participate in global VLBI arrays. The inclusion of phased ALMA in current VLBI networks operating at (sub) millimeter wavelengths provides an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity, as well as enhancements in u–v coverage and north–south angular resolution. The availability of a phased ALMA enables a wide range of new ultra-high angular resolution science applications, including the resolution of supermassive black holes on event horizon scales and studies of the launch and collimation of astrophysical jets. It also provides a high-sensitivity aperture that may be used for investigations such as pulsar searches at high frequencies. This paper provides an overview of the ALMA Phasing System design, implementation, and performance characteristics.

Methods: observational

Instrumentation: high angular resolution

Instrumentation: interferometers

Show all persons

Published in

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

0004-6280 (ISSN) 1538-3873 (eISSN)

Vol. 130 Issue 983 art. no 015002

Categorizing

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Other Computer and Information Science

Signal Processing

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

Identifiers

DOI

10.1088/1538-3873/aa9c3d

More information

Latest update

9/10/2019