http://arxiv.org/abs/2301.06708
The low-frequency radio telescope of the Square kilometre Array (SKA) is being built by the international radio astronomical community to i) have orders of magnitude higher sensitivity and ii) be able to map the sky several hundred times faster, than any other existing facilities over the frequency range 50 MHz to 350 MHz. The sensitivity of a radio telescope array is in general dependent upon the number of electromagnetic sensors used to receive the sky signal. The total number of them is further constrained by the effects of mutual coupling between the sensor elements, allowable grating lobes in their radiation patterns etc. The operating frequency band is governed by the desired spatial and spectral response, acceptable sidelobe and backlobe levels, radiation efficiency, polarization purity and calibratability of sensors’ response. This paper presents a brief review of several broadband antennas considered as potential candidates by various engineering groups across the globe, for the low frequency radio telescope of SKA covering the frequency range of 50-350 MHz, on the basis of their suitability for conducting primary scientific objectives.
A. Raghunathan, K. Satish, A. Sathyamurthy, et. al.
Wed, 18 Jan 23
24/133
Comments: 14 pages, 33 figures, JoAA – Special issue on the SKA (2023) – Accepted for publication