Scientific Justification for a Beam-Forming Array on the Green Bank Telescope

Abstract

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) plans to build a beam-forming array for the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) capable of producing seven beams at L-band. The physical size of 21-cm feeds at the GBT makes it impossible to support a system with more than three beams if they are formed in the traditional fashion by stacking feed horns side by side. The beam-forming array is the most natural, efficient, and logical way to gain the advantage, and would represent a breakthrough in technology. Such an instrument would open up many new survey possibilities in spectral line and continuum imaging and polarization, as well as searches for new pulsars along the Galactic Plane. This document presents justifications and sample observing parameters for these surveys along with required system specification.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 31, 2002
Accession Number
ADA411912

Entities

People

  • B. E. Turner
  • F. J. Lockman
  • J. J. Condon
  • L. H. Stairs
  • T. M. Bania

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Astronomy
  • Beam Forming
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Electrons
  • Frequency
  • L Band
  • Line Of Sight
  • Linear Polarization
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic Properties
  • Measurement
  • Observatories
  • Polarization
  • Radiation
  • Radio Astronomy
  • Scattering

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space