Design of large millimeter radio telescopes

An extension of radio astronomy observations to the millimeter-wavelength region has advantages related to an improvement of angular resolution and the importance of this spectral region for the study of the process of star formation and the chemistry of the interstellar medium. However, there are a number of difficulties connected with the design of telescopes for the shorter wavelengths. The basic problems are examined, and approaches for overcoming them are considered, taking into account the design features employed in connection with the construction of the 25-m telescope of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the U.S. and the 30-m telescope of the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany. Attention is given to structural deformations, pointing variations, surface panel fabrication, the measurement of the reflection profile, and the surface panel setting.