Thermal control of the IRAM 30-m millimeter radio telescope
Abstract
The performance of millimeter wavelength telescopes may be critically impaired by temperature differences, which cause structural deformations larger than those due to gravity and wind. Model calculations show that a temperature uniformity of the telescope structure of about 1 K is required. For the 30-m millimeter radio telescope that is realized by thermal insulation of the telescope and temperature control of the reflector support structure and the quadrupod, allowing full performance independent of time of day or season. A description of the control system is given together with measured performance data. The additional cost of the thermal control amounts to 10 percent of the total cost of the telescope. The increase in availability with unimpaired characteristics is estimated at a factor of 1.5-2. Calculations with a detailed thermal model are also in accordance with the measurements. Thus temperature effects can be included numerically in the structural design and be controlled to eliminate thermally induced deformations.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- April 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988A&A...195..364B
- Keywords:
-
- Millimeter Waves;
- Radio Telescopes;
- Temperature Control;
- Air Flow;
- Cooling;
- Radio Astronomy;
- Astronomy