Cross-shaped aperture synthesis system

A radiotelescope with a cross-shaped parallel-sequential aperture synthesis system is being installed in Siberia for the purpose of radioheliographic research, particularly for study of solar active regions and bursts. The design of this facility takes into account peculiarities of the Sun as a radioemission source, namely its continuous and sometimes fast as well as wide variation, sudden buildup of new activity, diversity of processes and formations, wavelength dependence of the extent of activity spread, nonuniform large-scale and small-scale structure, and effect of the Sun's rotation on location and form of observable objects. In order to cope with solar dynamics, it was foremost necessary to ensure an angle resolution adequate for visible and X-ray images by appropriate spacing of antenna arrays over a large area. With an attainable resolution of 10 inches x 20 inches, it is possible to synthesize 35 feet by 35 feet radio images of the solar disk with centimetric waves.