A Wide-Band, Active Antenna System for Long Wavelength Radio Astronomy

• Published in: Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Vol. 124; no. 920; pp. 1090 - 1104
• Main Authors: Hicks, Brian C., Paravastu-Dalal, Nagini, Stewart, Kenneth P., Erickson, William C., Ray, Paul S., Kassim, Namir E., Burns, Steve, Clarke, Tracy, Schmitt, Henrique, Craig, Joe, Hartman, Jake, Weiler, Kurt W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Active antennas
• ISSN: 0004-6280; 1538-3873
• DOI: 10.1086/668121

ABSTRACT We describe an "active" antenna system for HF/VHF (long wavelength) radio astronomy that has been successfully deployed 256-fold as the first station (LWA1) of the planned Long Wavelength Array. The antenna system, consisting of crossed dipoles, an active balun/preamp, a support structure, and a ground screen has been shown to successfully operate over at least the band from 20 MHz (15 m wavelength) to 80 MHz (3.75 m wavelength) with a noise figure that is at least 6 dB better than the Galactic background emission-noise temperature over that band. Thus, we met the goal to design and construct a compact, inexpensive, rugged, and easily assembled antenna system that can be deployed many-fold to form numerous large individual "stations" for the purpose of building a large, long wavelength synthesis array telescope for radio astronomical and ionospheric observations.