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Antennas in Radio Telescope Systems

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Handbook of Antenna Technologies

Abstract

Radio astronomy is the study of the universe by measurement of radio frequency emission at frequencies ranging from a few MHz to the far infrared. Signals of interest are typically extraordinarily weak, necessitating large effective aperture and resulting in some of the world’s largest antenna systems. Technologies now commonly employed include reflector antennas (“dishes”) using horn-type feeds or feed arrays, beamforming arrays consisting of elements ranging from dipoles to large dishes, and interferometry. Many problems in radio astronomy also require very fine angular resolution, leading to aperture synthesis imaging instruments consisting of antennas distributed over apertures ranging from hundreds of meters to intercontinental distances. This chapter provides a brief review of antenna systems used in operational modern radio telescopes and in anticipated new radio telescopes.

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Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the helpful comments and suggestions of R.M. Prestage (NRAO), G.B. Taylor (U. New Mexico), and K.F. Warnick (Brigham Young U.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 432 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    S W Ellingson

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  1. S W Ellingson
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Correspondence to S W Ellingson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Electrical and Computer Engin., National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Zhi Ning Chen

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Ellingson, S.W. (2015). Antennas in Radio Telescope Systems. In: Chen, Z. (eds) Handbook of Antenna Technologies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-75-7_124-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-75-7_124-1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-4560-75-7

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