Detection Techniques Radio/Submm

part of

Groningen University -

Masters course:

Instrumentation in Astronomy and

Space Research Technology

1-apr-2005

Table of contents

Author: J. Simons
Verified by: H.J. Boer / Date of issue: ...
Kind of issue: Public / Scope: Development
Doc.Nr: Proposal
Responsible: J. Simons
Approved by: H.J. Boer / Status: Preliminary
Revision nr: 0 / File: DetRadio_02.doc

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1. Introduction 3

Entry level of the students 4

2.Goal 5

3.Contents 6

Block 1, Monday 25 April: Radio Telescope systems an overview 6

Block 2, Monday 2 May: Receiver systems and Antennas 6

Block 3, Monday 9 May: Signal transport 7

Block 4, Wednesday 11 May: Front-ends for submm 7

Block 5, Monday 16 May: Amplifiers and IF systems 7

Block 6, Wednesday 25 May: Quasi optical systems 7

Block 7, Monday 30 May: Phased array systems and Backend detection 7

Block 8, Monday 6 June: RF Electronics, trends in components and MMICs 8

Block 9, Monday 13 June: Practical work at ASTRON (Dwingeloo) 8

4.Examination 8

5.References 9

6.Text description of the course 10

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Distribution list:

Group: / Others:
A.J. Boonstra
H.J. Boer
J.G. bij de Vaate
D. Kant
J. Bregman
B. Woestenburg / M. de Vos
A. van Es
R. F. Peletier (Kapteyn inst. RUG)
P R. Wesselius (SRON Gn)
W. Wild (SRON Gn)

Document history

Revision / Date / Chapter / Page / Modification / Change
01 / 31-jan-2005 / - / Creation
02 / 28-feb-2005 / update, formatted document
03 / 1-maa-2005 / update, fill in contents part
04 / 1-maa-2005 / update, first feedback from lecturers
05 / 21-maa-2005 / update, feedback from RUG and lecturers, schedule only mondays
06 / 1-apr-2005 / Updated to 4 study points, 9blocks

1. Introduction

Series of lectures (32 hours) and exercises (16 hours), part of the Masters Education ‘Advanced Instrumentation and Space Research Technology’.

The weight of this course is 4 study points (ECTS), equivalent to ca. 112 hours of work.

This course is further described on dr. Peletiers web page:

www.astro.rug.nl/~peletier/TSR.html

The lectures are organized by:

dr. Jan Simons

ASTRON, Dwingeloo

telephone: 0521-595216

e-mail

Contact at RUG Kapteyn institute is:

Prof. dr. Reynier F. Peletier

telephone 050-363.6647

room 141

home page: www.astro.rug.nl/~peletier

Lecturers will be:

Bert Woestenburg

Jaap Bregman

Jan Geralt bij de Vaate

Dion Kant

Wim van Cappellen

Jan Simons

Wolfgang Wild (SRON)

A concluding examination will be given, end of June (date to be determined).

Five or six reports of practical work will be requested during the course. The practical assignments will count in the total result for 50 %.

The lectures will be mainly on Mondays, from 25 April to 13 June 2005, and take place in room 292 in the Zernike building.

Two lectures on submm will be given on Wednesdays 11 and 25 May.

On 13 June one full day of practical training will be held at ASTRON, Dwingeloo.

The times will be 9:30 to 12:30 for the lectures. (Lecturers will bring their own laptops.)

Some weeks there will be a practice hour, just after lunch break (13.30 - 14.30). This is specifically indicated in the program.

One complete day will be organised at ASTRON, Dwingeloo, where, next to college, some practical exercises will be performed in the field of radio astronomy.

The allotment of lectures to dates is tentative and will probably be adjusted.

At the Rijks Universiteit Groningen (RUG) course information can be found at:

www.astro.rug.nl/~peletier/TSR.html

Technische Sterrenkunde en Ruimtetechnologie:

“Programma Gevorderde Instrumentatie en Ruimteonderzoektechnologie /

Advanced Instrumentation and Space Research Technology”.

From next year this course will be given in a different format as part of the broader mastervariant Instrumentation and Informatics in Physics, Astronomy and Space Research, which will replace the variant Advanced Instrumentation and Space Research Technology. There will be a mandatory course in 'Applied Detection Techniques', which will comprise subjects in Radio/Submm, Optical, X-ray and Detection techniques for Particle Physics. A more specialized course on the same topic will be given every 2 years as well.

Entry level of the students

The participants have a degree in Physics or Astronomy. This course is part of the (consecutive) master’s course. The general course program is depicted below:

Contacts at University of Groningen, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, are:

Prof. R.F. Peletier, Sterrenkunde (),

Prof. J.M. van der Hulst, Sterrenkunde () of

Dr. H. Hasper, Technische Natuurkunde ()

Dr. H. Wörtsche, KVI ()

ECTS: European Credit Transfer System: annual norm = 60 study points

(42 weeks of 40 hrs study). 1 study point is equivalent to ca. 28 hrs of study

The weight of this course is ca. 4 study points, equivalent to ca. 110 hours of work.

Period studypoints

2nd Quarter:

Astronomische Signaalverwerking I 6

3rd Quarter:

Ontwerp van Astr. Ruimtemissies 6

4th Quarter:

== Detectietechnieken Radio/ Submm 4 <==

2. Goal

Since the experiments by Jansky concerning interference in radio signals by sky noise in the early 30’s of the last century, Radio Astronomy has played an important role. The importance of his findings are recognized in the unit of received RF power flux used in Radio Astronomy, the Jansky Jy (10-26 Wm-2Hz-1) Today Radio Astronomy uses frequencies ranging from 40 MHz to 10 GHz and Submm range (up to 1.5 THz) and down to the HF range (about 10 MHz).

In order to understand the problems concerning designing and operating receivers for radio astronomy knowledge about radio systems and detection principles are obligatory. This course will give insight in the techniques of radio receiving systems.

Projects in which ASTON participates at this moment are ALMA for the Submm range and LOFAR. (See also: www.alma.info and www.lofar.nl.) Parts of ASTRON’s daily practice shall be used to introduce the students to the concepts relevant to radio astronomy.

3. Contents

Note on exercises: Where applicable, each theory block will deliver two or three exercises.

Nr / Date / Title / lecturer
1 / Monday 25 April / Radio Telescope systems an overview / J. Bregman
2 / Monday 2 May / Receiver systems and Antennas / B. Woestenburg
3 / Monday 9 May / Signal transport / D. Kant
4 / Wednesday 11 May / Front-end detectors for submm / SRON (W.Wild)
5 / Monday 16 May / Amplifiers and IF systems / B. Woestenburg
6 / Wednesday 25 May / Quasi optical systems / SRON (W.Wild)
7 / Monday 30 May / Phased array systems and Backend detection / D. Kant
8 / Monday 6 June / RF Electronics, trends in components and MMICs / J.G. b.d Vaate
9 / Monday 13 June / Practical work at ASTRON / J.Simons, D.Kant

Block 1, Monday 25 April: Radio Telescope systems an overview

- J. Bregman

In this block a complete system overview is given with basic functionality of all major components.

System breakdown, overview of different systems, different setups (primary/ secondary focus), critical system parameters.

Example systems: WSRT, LOFAR, SKA, ALMA, JCMT

The detection process: coupling modes, sweeping and correlation of arrays of detectors.

(Further details of the array mode shall be treated when introducing phased array systems, block 7.)

Block 2, Monday 2 May: Receiver systems and Antennas

- B. Woestenburg

- (input from W. v. Cappellen’s + group)

- (D. Kant, J.G. b.d Vaate, J. Bregman)

Subjects: Types of receivers, Functionality, Properties, Basic components, Application example, LNAs, cooling

Front-end detection, Heterodyne/ homodyne

Direct conversion, Diode mixers, Superconducting mixers, (local) oscillators, phase noise

Antennas: forms, bandwidth, directivity, polarization

Parabolas, dipoles and Vivaldis, Gain, Antenna pattern, Feed systems

Submm antennas (bolometers): ...

Block 3, Monday 9 May: Signal transport

- D. Kant

- (J. Simons, J.G. b.d Vaate)

Subjects: RF Cables, components, (micro) strip lines, wave guides, PCB technologies

Optical fibers, incl. open air transport

Block 4, Wednesday 11 May: Front-ends for submm

- SRON (W. Wild)

Subjects: Heterodyne and direct detectors: SIS (Superconductor/ insulator/ superconductor), HEB-devices (hot electron bolometer), 1st and 2nd stage amplifiers

Local oscillators (for submm and THz)

Block 5, Monday 16 May: Amplifiers and IF systems

- B. Woestenburg

- (J.G. b.d Vaate)

Subjects: (Cryogenic) LNAs, Noise parameters, Scatter parameters, Linearity/ Non-linear distortion

Types of amplifiers and IF systems, properties and design concepts (incl. submm IF)

Some specific radio telescopes filter issues are addressed: Noise in filters, impact on total system noise, implementation techniques for the radio-domain, amplitude response, phase response

Possible extensions: signal processing from radio domain to ADC, different architectures, Amplification, digital filtering

Monday 23 May: no class

Block 6, Wednesday 25 May: Quasi optical systems

- SRON (W. Wild)

- (P. Wesselius, J. Simons)

Subjects: Gaussian Beams, Quasi-optical components, Gaussian beams and antennas, Quasi-optical system design

//Suggestion: also: IR back end detection: AOS (Acoustical optical spectrometers)

// SRON input: article refs. SRON contact, P.Wesselius: Rudolf Schieder (Keulen)

Block 7, Monday 30 May: Phased array systems and Backend detection

- D. Kant

- (J. Bregman, J.G. b.d Vaate)

Subjects: LOFAR, EMBRACE, signal/ noise ratio (as compared to single dish, no degradation, Delay lines, Phase shifters

Further details of the array mode of a radio telescope.

Backend detection systems: AD conversion, RFI, Power measurement, linearity, statistics

Example backends from ASTRON experience: WSRT, LOFAR, EMBRACE

Block 8, Monday 6 June: RF Electronics, trends in components and MMICs

- J.G b.d Vaate

Subjects: Overview application field, physical principles/ lumped circuits, special examples from ASTRON experience, trends (RF SiP), RF components for large scale radio telescopes.

Block 9, Monday 13 June: Practical work at ASTRON (Dwingeloo)

- J.Simons (morning)

- (D. Kant, J.G. b.d Vaate)

RF course instructions and practical exercises: S-parameter measurements (LNA, some components) (Possibly extended with RF noise measurement)

- D. Kant (afternoon)

- (A. Gunst, J. Simons)

Practical assignment on phased array systems

May be add a practical assignment on the array mode of radio telescope ?

4. Examination

A concluding examination will be given, end of June.

The practical assignments will count in the total result for 50 %.

5. References

1. J. D. Kraus, Radio Astronomy, 2nd ed. 1986, Cygnus-Quasar books

Fundamental radio astronomy handbook

2. R. Ludwig, P. Bretchko, RF Circuit design, theory and applications.

Prentice Hall 2000, ISBN 0-13-095323-7

(used in RF course from ASTRON)

3. Proceedings SPIE Vol. 5498, June 2004, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy

4. Proceedings SPIE Vol. 5487 June 2004, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy

pages 401-523: Herschel Space Observatory

pages 1501-1538: SPICA, SAFIR, ESPRIT, SPECS

pages 1608-1634: Details over SAFIR en SPICA

5. Quasi optical Systems

Paul F. Goldsmith; IEEE Press, 1998, ISBN 0-7803-3439-6

Web addresses:

- www.alma.info

- www.lofar.nl

...

6. Text description of the course

In the first block a complete system overview is given with basic functionality of all major components. The radio telescope system breakdown consists of antenna, frontend receiver, backend receiver, detection, imaging processing and control. An overview of different systems is sketched: single dish telescope systems, interferometers, VLBI, including different setups (primary/ secondary focus). The critical system parameters are introduced: Sensitivity, stability, system noise, Aeff/ Tsys. Example systems are drawn from: WSRT, LOFAR, SKA, ALMA (Atacama Large MiLlimeter Array), JCMT(James Clerk Maxwell Telescope)

The detection and/ or imaging process is coupled to modes like beam sweeping and correlation of arrays of detectors. A single pixel radio telescope can be compared to an optical telescope with an imaging array in the focal plane. Imaging an array through correlation is essential to high resolution radio telescopes and can be directly translated to stability requirements on the local oscillator.

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