Initial observations with the Tidbinbilla 64-m telescope at a wavelength of 13.5 MM
Abstract
A radiometer operating at a wavelength of 13.5 mm for use on the Tidbinbilla 64-m telescope is described, which includes a balanced waveguide mixer and a low-noise amplifier, a Gunn diode oscillator, and a frequency synthesizer. With regard to antenna pointing, absolute pointing showed a peak error of 1' arc; by applying simple corrections, the scatter was reduced to less than 0.002 deg r.m.s. The aperture efficiency of the telescope at 13.5 mm is calculated to lie between 0.16 and 0.25, while the maximum aperture efficiency from observing the compact source G333.6-0.2, was measured to be 0.22 at an elevation angle of 55 deg. It is also noted that coherent integration times in excess of 5 minutes are possible in clear weather conditions.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
- Pub Date:
- 1979
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1979PASA....3..353F
- Keywords:
-
- Microwave Radiometers;
- Radio Astronomy;
- Telescopes;
- Circular Polarization;
- Frequency Stability;
- Gunn Diodes;
- Millimeter Waves;
- Very Long Base Interferometry;
- Astronomy