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 A46Subject Categories
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Signal Processing
Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/201936777