Increasing efficiency and inclusivity of a radio telescope approaching 60

James A. Green

doi:10.1117/12.2563255

13 December 2020 Increasing efficiency and inclusivity of a radio telescope approaching 60

James A. Green

Proceedings Volume 11449, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VIII; 114490R (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2563255
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

The 64m Parkes Radio Telescope, known affectionately as `The Dish', is now approaching its 60th year of operation. It has receiver systems capable of observing from 700 MHz to 26 GHz with bandwidths up to 3 GHz. The Dish has continued to be at the forefront of radio astronomy and technology research, having had many improvements, including the 13-beam 1.4􀀀GHz multibeam receiver which enabled unprecedented surveys of atomic hydrogen in the Southern sky, and helped discover approximately half the known population of pulsars, as well as discovering Fast Radio Bursts. The Parkes Radio Telescope was recognised as a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Pathfinder in 2016, on the basis of Phased Array and Wideband Feed technology development. It also became part of the Breakthrough Listen project, with an initiation of paid telescope time operation, that now also includes time for dedicated follow-up of detections with the Five-hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope, FAST. I will present a summary of the current status of the capabilities of the Parkes Radio Telescope, how we are increasing efficiency through new SKA oriented technology, whilst still maintaining science yield. This includes an ultra-wide bandwidth low frequency receiver (700MHz􀀀4 GHz, replacing 4 previous receivers), now in national facility operation, a plan for a higher frequency ultra-wideband receiver (4GHz to _25􀀀32 GHz, replacing 5 previous receivers), and a cryogenically cooled Phased Array Feed under design (to replace the 13- beam receiver). I will also present our operational model, and how we balance competitive open access science time with purchased telescope time.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

James A. Green "Increasing efficiency and inclusivity of a radio telescope approaching 60", Proc. SPIE 11449, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VIII, 114490R (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2563255

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