Wideband 67-116 GHz receiver development for ALMA Band 2
Journal article, 2020

Context. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has been in operation since 2011, but it has not yet been populated with the full suite of its planned frequency bands. In particular, ALMA Band 2 (67-90 GHz) is the final band in the original ALMA band definition to be approved for production. Aims. We aim to produce a wideband, tuneable, sideband-separating receiver with 28 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth per polarisation operating in the sky frequency range of 67-116 GHz. Our design anticipates new ALMA requirements following the recommendations of the 2030 ALMA Development Roadmap. Methods. The cryogenic cartridge is designed to be compatible with the ALMA Band 2 cartridge slot, where the coldest components - the feedhorns, orthomode transducers, and cryogenic low noise amplifiers - operate at a temperature of 15 K. We use multiple simulation methods and tools to optimise our designs for both the passive optics and the active components. The cryogenic cartridge is interfaced with a room-temperature (warm) cartridge hosting the local oscillator and the downconverter module. This warm cartridge is largely based on GaAs semiconductor technology and is optimised to match the cryogenic receiver bandwidth with the required instantaneous local oscillator frequency tuning range. Results. Our collaboration has resulted in the design, fabrication, and testing of multiple technical solutions for each of the receiver components, producing a state-of-the-art receiver covering the full ALMA Band 2 and 3 atmospheric window. The receiver is suitable for deployment on ALMA in the coming years and it is capable of dual-polarisation, sideband-separating observations in intermediate frequency bands spanning 4-18 GHz for a total of 28 GHz on-sky bandwidth per polarisation channel. Conclusions. We conclude that the 67-116 GHz wideband implementation for ALMA Band 2 is now feasible and that this receiver provides a compelling instrumental upgrade for ALMA that will enhance observational capabilities and scientific reach.

instrumentation: interferometers

Author

P. Yagoubov

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

T. Mroczkowski

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Victor Belitsky

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory

D. Cuadrado-Calle

University of Manchester

F. Cuttaia

Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)

G. A. Fuller

University of Manchester

J. -D. Gallego

Yebes Observatory

A. Gonzalez

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

K. Kaneko

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

P. Mena

University of Chile (UCH)

R. Molina

University of Chile (UCH)

R. Nesti

Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)

V. Tapia

University of Chile (UCH)

F. Villa

Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)

M. Beltran

Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)

F. Cavaliere

University of Milan

J. Ceru

RPG Radiometer Physics GmbH

G. E. Chesmore

University of Michigan

K. Coughlin

University of Michigan

C. De Breuck

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Mathias Fredrixon

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory

D. George

University of Manchester

H. Gibson

RPG Radiometer Physics GmbH

J. Golec

University of Michigan

A. Josaitis

University of Michigan

F. Kemper

Academia Sinica

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

M. Kotiranta

University of Bern

Igor Lapkin

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory

I. Lopez-Fernandez

Yebes Observatory

G. Marconi

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

S. Mariotti

Ist Nazl Astrofis

W. McGenn

University of Manchester

J. McMahon

University of Michigan

A. Murk

University of Bern

F. Pezzotta

University of Milan

N. Phillips

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

N. Reyes

University of Chile (UCH)

S. Ricciardi

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

M. Sandri

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Magnus Strandberg

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory

L. Terenzi

Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)

L. Testi

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

B. Thomas

RPG Radiometer Physics GmbH

Y. Uzawa

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

D. Vigano

University of Milan

N. Wadefalk

Low Noise Factory

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 634 A46

Subject Categories

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Signal Processing

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201936777

More information

Latest update

10/9/2023