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This paper presents the ESA Voyage 2050 White Paper for a concept of TeraHertz Exploration and Zooming-in for Astrophysics (THEZA). It addresses the science case and some implementation issues of a space-borne radio interferometric system for ultra-sharp imaging of celestial radio sources at the level of angular resolution down to (sub-) microarcseconds. THEZA focuses at millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths (frequencies above ∼ 300 GHz), but allows for science operations at longer wavelengths too. The THEZA concept science rationale is focused on the physics of spacetime in the vicinity of supermassive black holes as the leading science driver. The main aim of the concept is to facilitate a major leap by providing researchers with orders of magnitude improvements in the resolution and dynamic range in direct imaging studies of the most exotic objects in the Universe, black holes. The concept will open up a sizeable range of hitherto unreachable parameters of observational astrophysics. It unifies two major lines of development of space-borne radio astronomy of the past decades: Space VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) and mm- and sub-mm astrophysical studies with "single dish" instruments. It also builds upon the recent success of the Earth-based Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) – the first-ever direct image of a shadow of the super-massive black hole in the centre of the galaxy M87. As an amalgam of these three major areas of modern observational astrophysics, THEZA aims at facilitating a breakthrough in high-resolution high image quality studies in the millimetre and sub-millimetre domain of the electromagnetic spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a heterogeneous real-time baseband astronomical backend solution centered on RFSoC and combined GPU. The solution implemented the integration of the high-performance, completely configurable RF signal link to digitize, process, and transmit increasingly massive radio astronomy signals and provided a highly flexible and scalable scheme for the QTT backend. The RFSoC-based integration RF pre-processing front-end directly digitizes dual-polarization signals at the sampling rate of 2048 MHz and converts them to dual-16-channel data streams for parallel mixing and polyphase decimation filtering. The generated baseband data with 256 MHz center frequency and 100 MHz bandwidth is packaged and output to the GPU server through the 100GbE Interface. Complete processes of direct RF sampling, pre-processing, and high-speed transmission are implemented at the receiver. The GPU server executes real-time post-processing at the remote end. The dynamic configuration of two observation modes can be achieved with frequency resolutions of 3.051 and 0.763 kHz. The H2CO absorption line observations with the Nanshan 26-m radio telescope verified the system's performance and the design's rationality. This paper explores and confirms the RFSoC's applicability on the backend. The flexible and efficient QTT backend scheme was planned based on the proposed real-time baseband pattern by expanding multi-RFSoC and GPU computing nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital correlator is one of the most crucial data processing components of a radio telescope array. With the scale of radio interferometeric array growing, many efforts have been devoted to developing a cost-effective and scalable correlator in the field of radio astronomy. In this paper, a 192-input digital correlator with six CASPER ROACH2 boards and seven GPU servers has been deployed as the digital signal processing system for Tianlai cylinder pathfinder located in Hongliuxia observatory. The correlator consists of 192 input signals (96 dual-polarization), 125-MHz bandwidth, and full-Stokes output. The correlator inherits the advantages of the CASPER system, for example, low cost, high performance, modular scalability, and a heterogeneous computing architecture. With a rapidly deployable ROACH2 digital sampling system, a commercially expandable 10 Gigabit switching network system, and a flexible upgradable GPU computing system, the correlator forms a low-cost and easilyupgradable system, poised to support scalable large-scale interferometeric array in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a search for |$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$| emission of the gas-rich galaxies in the Vela region (260° ≤ ℓ ≤ 290°, −2° ≤ b ≤ 1°) to explore the Vela Supercluster (VSCL) at V hel ∼ 18 000  |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠ , largely obscured by Galactic dust. Within the mostly Radio Frequency Interference-free band (250 < V hel < 25 000  |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠) of MeerKAT, the analysis focuses on 157 hexagonally distributed pointings extracted from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey located in the Vela region (Vela−SMGPS). These were combined into 10 contiguous mosaics, covering an ∼90 square degrees area. Among the 843 |$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$| detected sources, 39 were previously discovered in the H  i Parkes Zone of Avoidance survey (V hel < 12 000  |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠ ; rms ∼ 6  |$\rm mJy\, beam^{-1}$|⁠). With the improved rms level of the Vela−SMGPS, i.e. 0.29–0.56  |$\rm mJy\, beam^{-1}$|⁠ , our study unveils nearly 12 times more detections (471 candidates) in that same velocity range. We furthermore could identify 187 galaxy candidates with an |$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$| mass limit reaching |$\log (M_{\rm HI}/\rm {\rm M}_{\odot }) = 9.44$| in the VSCL velocity range V hel ∼ 19 500 ± 3500  |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠. We find indications of two wall-like overdensities that confirm the original suspicion that these walls intersect at low latitudes around longitudes of ℓ ∼ 272°–278°. We also find a strong signature most likely associated with the Hydra/Antlia extension and evidence of a previously unknown narrow filament at V hel ∼ 12 000 |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠. This paper demonstrates the efficiency of systematic |$\textrm {H}\, \scriptstyle \mathrm{I}$| surveys with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) precursor MeerKAT, even in the most obscured part of the Zone of Avoidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 230 GHz lightcurves of Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) predicted by general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics and general relativistic ray-tracing (GRRT) models by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration have higher variability M Δ T compared to observations. In this series of papers, we explore the origin of such large brightness variability. In this first paper, we performed large GRRT parameter surveys that span from the optically thin to the optically thick regimes, covering the ion-to-electron temperature ratio under strongly magnetized conditions, R Low, from 1 to 60. We find that increasing R Low can lead to either an increase or a reduction in M Δ T depending on the other model parameters, making it consistent with the observed variability of Sgr A* in some cases. Our analysis of GRRT image snapshots finds that the major contribution to the large M Δ T for the R Low = 1 models comes from the photon ring. However, secondary contributions from the accretion flow are also visible depending on the spin parameter. Our work demonstrates the importance of the electron temperature used for modeling radiatively inefficient accretion flows and places new constraints on the ion-to-electron temperature ratio. A more in-depth analysis for understanding the dependencies of M Δ T on R Low will be performed in subsequent papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the unpredictability of stochastic time series, this paper presents an alternative deep learning approach to characterize long-term stochastic fluctuation patterns. The proposed approach considers different deep neural networks (DNNs) carefully applied to 1∕fβ noise time series. The predictive characterization of different noise patterns is determined by the respective spectral index β, which works as a regression-based training attribute. The study is based on synthetic canonical colored noises (white: β=0, pink: β=1, red: β=2) and also turbulent-like pattern with β=5∕3. Five DNNs are used for training based on the spectral patterns of each noise class. A new Fast Fourier Transform centric loss function for training different DNNs models drives hyperparameter exploration for each model using the optuna python package, resulting in 2560 well-established unique Deep Learning Models (DLMs) for the presented methodology. The results show that a predictive characterization of the fluctuation pattern of a stochastic time series is feasible when stochastic fluctuation is the main pattern to be addressed. Considering future applications in radio astronomy, method performance and results are interpreted and discussed in a data science context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key factors of space weather is solar flare activity, the monitoring and prediction of which is an important task of specialized dedicated groups of space experts and solar astronomers. Solar flare forecasts are based on identifying and detecting the so-called precursors, specific processes in solar activity events that occur before flares. Collecting data for space weather analysis and prediction comes down to several types of measurements performed by more than a dozen spacecraft. Ground-based observations and monitoring nowadays are becoming more or less complimentary. One of the reasons for this is the limitation of observation time with ground-based telescopes due to adverse Earth weather conditions. However, solar radio astronomy is immune to almost any weather activity, and the main question here is what new quality it can bring. Observational data accumulated in the 20th century show that solar radio bursts can be associated with flare activity. In addition, the existing network of solar radio telescopes is already well established. As an example, in this paper, we describe the possibilities of a fully steerable 32-meter radio telescope of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC), Latvia, which can be useful for searching for new precursors of solar flares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broadband differential-MMIC low-noise amplifier (DLNA) using metamorphic high-electron-mobility transistors of 70 nm in Gallium Arsenide (70 nm GaAs mHEMT technology) is presented. The design and results of the performance measurements of the DLNA in the frequency band from 1 to 16 GHz are shown, with a high dynamic range, and a noise figure ( N F ) below 1.3 dB is obtained. In this work, two low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) were designed and manufactured in the OMMIC foundry: a dual LNA, which we call balanced, and a differential LNA, which we call DLNA. However, the paper focuses primarily on DLNA because of its differential architecture. Both use a 70 nm GaAs mHEMT space-qualified technology with a cutoff frequency of 300 GHz. With a low power bias V b i a s / I b i a s (5 V/40.5 mA), N F < 1.07 dB "on wafer" was achieved, from 2 to 16 GHz; while with the measurements made "on jig", N F = 1.1 dB, from 1 to 10 GHz. Furthermore, it was obtained that N F < 1.5 dB, from 1 to 16 GHz, with a figure of merit equal to 145.5 GHz/mW. Finally, with the proposed topology, several LNAs were designed and manufactured, both in the OMMIC process and in other foundries with other processes, such as UMS. The experimental results showed that the N F of the DLNA MMIC with multioctave bandwidth that was built in the frequency range of the L-, S-, C-, and X-bands was satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of the direction of electromagnetic (EM) waves from a radio source using electrically short antennas is one of the challenging problems in the field of radio astronomy. In this paper we have developed an algorithm which performs better in direction and polarization estimations than the existing algorithms. Our proposed algorithm Snapshot Averaged Matrix Pencil Method (SAM) is a modification to the existing Matrix Pencil Method (MPM) based Direction of Arrival (DoA) algorithm. In general, MPM estimates DoA of the incoherent EM waves in the spectra using unitary transformations and least square method (LSM). Our proposed SAM modification is made in context to the proposed Space Electric and Magnetic Sensor (SEAMS) mission to study the radio universe below 16 MHz. SAM introduces a snapshot averaging method to improve the incoherent frequency estimation thereby improving the accuracy of DoA estimation. It can also detect polarization to differentiate between Right Hand Circular Polarlization (RHCP), Right Hand Elliptical Polarlization (RHEP), Left Hand Circular Polarlization (LHCP), Left Hand Elliptical Polarlization (LHEP) and Linear Polarlization (LP). This paper discusses the formalism of SAM and shows the initial results of a scaled version of a DoA experiment at a resonant frequency of ∼ 72 MHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is the world's largest radio telescope currently under construction, and will employ elaborate signal processing to detect new pulsars, i.e. highly magnetised rotating neutron stars. This paper addresses the acceleration of demanding computations for this pulsar search on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) using a new high-level design process based on OpenCL templates that is transferable to other scientific problems. The successful FPGA acceleration of large-scale scientific workloads requires custom architectures that fully exploit the parallel computing capabilities of modern reconfigurable hardware and are amenable to substantial design space exploration. OpenCL-based high-level synthesis toolchains, with their ability to express interconnected multi-kernel pipelines in a single source language, excel in this domain. However, the achievable performance strongly depends on how well the compiler can infer desirable hardware structures from the code. One key aspect to excellent performance is commonly the uninterrupted, high-bandwidth streaming of data into and through the design. This is difficult to achieve in complex designs when data order needs to be re-arranged, e.g. transposed. It is equally hard to pre-fetch and burst-load from DDR memory when reading occurs in non-trivial patterns. In this paper, we propose new approaches to these two problems that use OpenCL-based code templates. We demonstrate the practical benefits of these approaches with the acceleration of a key component in the SKA's pulsar search pipeline: the Fourier Domain Acceleration Search (FDAS) module. Using our proposed methodology, we are able to develop a more scalable FDAS accelerator architecture than previously possible. We explore its design space to eventually achieve a 10x throughput improvement over a prior, thoroughly optimised implementation in plain OpenCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a wideband Vivaldi phased array with double band-notched performance for radio astronomy is proposed. To address the issues of radio frequency interference from 5 G mobile communication (4.8–5 GHz) and C-band satellite communication (5.9–6.5 GHz) in radio astronomy system, the hairpin ring resonator (HRR), defected ground structure and λ/2 shorted-circuit stub are utilized together to realize the double notched bands with different bandwidth. The resonate mechanism of the proposed HRR is widely investigated, which exhibits independent and controllable resonances. Meanwhile, λ/2 shorted-circuited stub is adopted for the band notched performance. As the current on the stub is induced along the shorted via to the ground, without participating in radiation, thus the notched frequency is not affected by the scan angle. With these novel and dedicated design, the proposed phased array performs double band-notched performance with high skirt selectivity and deep suppression, within the notched band the maximum rejection level is better than 22.7 dB. This is the first work to implement double notched bands in phased array to the authors' best knowledge. Finally, a prototype composed of 8 × 9 elements is fabricated and measured. The measurements agree well with the simulated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) released the first-ever image of a black hole event horizon. Astronomers are now aiming for higher angular resolutions of distant targets, like black holes, to understand more about the fundamental laws of gravity that govern our universe. To achieve this higher resolution and increased sensitivity, larger radio telescopes are needed to operate at higher frequencies and in larger quantities. Projects like the next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) and the Square-Kilometer Array (SKA) require building hundreds of telescopes with diameters greater than 10 ms over the next decade. This has a twofold effect. Radio telescope surfaces need to be more accurate to operate at higher frequencies, and the logistics involved in maintaining a radio telescope need to be simplified to support them properly in large quantities. Both of these problems can be solved with improved methods for surface metrology that are faster and more accurate with a higher resolution. This leads to faster and more accurate panel alignment and, therefore, a more productive observatory. In this paper, we present the use of binocular fringe projection profilometry as a solution to this problem and demonstrate it by aligning two panels on a 3-m radio telescope dish. The measurement takes only 10 min and directly delivers feedback on the tip, tilt, and piston of each panel to create the ideal reflector shape. Highlights: Current methods for measuring and aligning radio telescope dishes are insufficient for future astronomy requirements. We've developed a 3D scanning method for measuring full aperture dishes outdoors that is faster, easier, and more reliable than current methods. We demonstrated the method by aligning two panels on a 3-m dish to a high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging interferometric data in radio astronomy requires the use of non-linear algorithms that rely on different assumptions on the source structure and may produce non-unique results. This is especially true for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations, where the sampling of Fourier space is very sparse. A basic tenet in standard VLBI imaging techniques is to assume that the observed source structure does not evolve during the observation. However, the recent VLBI results of the supermassive black hole at our Galactic Centre (Sagittarius A*), recently reported by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, require the development of dynamic imaging algorithms, since it exhibits variability at minute time-scales. In this paper, we introduce a new non-convex optimization problem that extends the standard maximum entropy method (MEM), for reconstructing intra-observation dynamical images from interferometric data that evolve in every integration time. We present a rigorous mathematical formalism to solve the problem via the primal–dual approach. We build a Newton strategy and we give its numerical complexity. We also give a strategy to iteratively improve the obtained solution and, finally, we define a novel figure of merit to evaluate the quality of the recovered solution. Then, we test the algorithm, called the new-generation MEM (ngMEM), in different synthetic data sets, with increasing difficulty. Finally, we compare it with another well-established dynamical imaging method. Within this comparison, we have identified a significant improvement of the ngMEM reconstructions. Moreover, the evaluation of the integration time evolution scheme and the time contribution showed that this method can play a crucial role in obtaining good dynamic reconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first H  i results extracted from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS) – a narrow strip (Δ b ∼ 3°) along the southern Milky Way. The primary goal consisted in tracing the great attractor (GA) wall across the innermost zone of avoidance. We reduced a segment spanning the longitude range 302° ≤ ℓ ≤ 332° for the redshift range z ≤ 0.08. The superb SMGPS sensitivity (rms = 0.3–0.5 mJy beam−1 per 44 km s−1 channel) and angular resolution (∼31″ × 26″) lead to a detection limit of log(M H  i /M⊙) ≥ 8.5 at the GA distance (⁠|$\mbox{$V_{\rm {hel}}$}\, \sim 3500{\!-\!}6500$|  km s−1). A total of 477 galaxy candidates were identified over the full redshift range. A comparison of the few H  i detections with counterparts in the literature (mostly HIZOA) found the H  i fluxes and other H  i parameters to be highly consistent. The continuation of the GA wall is confirmed through a prominent overdensity of N  = 214 detections in the GA distance range. At higher latitudes, the wall moves to higher redshifts, supportive of a possible link with the Ophiuchus cluster located behind the Galactic Bulge. This deep interferometric H  i survey demonstrates the power of the SMGPS in improving our insight of large-scale structures at these extremely low latitudes, despite the high obscuration and continuum background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile communication base stations have become ubiquitous with the popularization and development of mobile communication services. Although the Chinese government has designated a radio quiet zone (RQZ) specifically for Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), the 4G International Mobile Telecommunications (4G-IMT) system is still heavily used to meet the communication needs around the RQZ. To assess the Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) caused by 4G-IMT base stations on the performance of FAST, this paper employs the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deterministic radio wave propagation prediction model. The interference of 4G-IMT base stations on FAST is evaluated based on relevant parameters, such as the frequency used by both FAST and the base station, in conjunction with the FAST threshold protection requirements. The results indicate that 47.73 % of the data exceed the radio astronomy protection threshold of FAST. In addition, a field experiment was conducted to verify the accuracy of the radio wave propagation prediction method used. The root-mean-square error between the predicted value and the measured value was found to be 6.94 dB, supporting the accuracy of the predicted results. The findings of this study can help suppress interference from mobile communication services around the RQZ of FAST and optimize the electromagnetic environment around FAST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a report on the activities and the proposed action plan of the Education and Public Outreach Working Group (EPO WG) of Square Kilometre Array–India Consortium (SKAIC). Details of a set of flagship programs as well as supporting activities are presented, in consonance with the scale of India's involvement in Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), as well as the educational and science literacy contexts in the country. Ongoing independent EPO activities by some of the member institutions are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed, manufactured, and tested a new feed design for interferometric radio telescopes with "large-N, small-D" designs. Such arrays require low-cost and low-complexity feeds for mass production on reasonable timescales and budgets, and also require those feeds to be compact to minimize obstruction of the dishes, along with having ultra-wide frequency bands of operation for most current and future science goals. The feed presented in this paper modifies the exponentially tapered slot antenna (Vivaldi) and quad-ridged flared horn antenna designs by having an oversized backshort, a novel method of maintaining a small size that is well-suited for deeper dishes (f ∕ D ≤ 0. 2 5). It is made of laser cut aluminum and printed circuit boards, such that it is inexpensive (≲ 7 5 USD per feed in large-scale production) and quick to build; it has a 5:1 frequency ratio, and its size is approximately a third of its longest operating wavelength. We present the science and engineering constraints that went into design decisions, the development and optimization process, and the simulated performance. A version of this feed design was optimized and fabricated for the Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD) prototypes. When simulated on CHORD's very deep dishes (f ∕ D = 0. 2 1) and with CHORD's custom first-stage amplifiers, the on-sky system temperature T sys of the complete receiving system from dish to digitizer remains below 30 K over most of the 0.3–1.5 GHz band, and maintains an aperture efficiency η A between 0.4 and 0.6. The entire receiving chain operates at ambient temperature. The feed is designed to slightly under-illuminate the CHORD dishes, in order to minimize coupling between array elements and spillover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulemba Astronomical Observatory, later known as the Mulemba Space Centre was founded in 1958 on Luanda's outskirts in Angola, then an African Portuguese colony, by the polymath Carlos Mar Bettencourt Faria. Being, from all accounts, a charming and knowledgeable individual who was mainly self taught, he managed to build several radio telescopes, a solar observing station, a state-of-the-art electronics laboratory and a satellite tracking facility. Financial support was obtained from a variety of individuals, commercial companies, public institutions and from 1971 onwards Angola's national government. Faria's ambitious plans were nevertheless always thwarted or delayed by lack of funds. In 1973 data started to be collected at the solar station but the whirlwind of 1970s politics had a decisive impact in Angola. Faria's beautiful dream effectively ended when he was assassinated at the Observatory in 1976. In this paper we recall Carlos Bettencourt Faria's life and his battle against all odds to establish a professional-level astronomical observatory in Angola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of methods for the radio frequency interference mitigation becomes a fundamental challenge for any radio astronomy research. In this paper, we report on the development and creation of a new spectrometer designed for solar observations at the RATAN-600 radio telescope, capable of excising radio interference using a statistical algorithm based on the spectral kurtosis estimation. The implementation of the external analog interface and the operation of the digital signal processing system based on the FPGA are described. The maximum spectral resolution reached is 122 kHz in the frequency band of 1.0–3.0 GHz. The output spectrum has from 64 to 8192 frequency bins, depending on the requirements of the observer, the output rate is 120 spectra per second. The test results and the first observations of the Sun show that the research method can successfully detect and suppress interference from most of the local radio interference sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-frequency aperture arrays represent sensitive instruments to detect signals from radio astronomic sources situated in the universe. In Italy, the Sardinia Aperture Array Demonstrator (SAAD) consists of an ongoing project of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) aimed to install an aperture array constituted of 128 dual-polarized Vivaldi antennas at the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) site. The originally envisaged 128 elements of SAAD were re-scoped to the 16 elements of its precursor named SADino, with the aim to quickly test the system with a digital beam-former based on the Italian Tile Processing Module (iTPM) digital back-end. A preliminary measurements campaign of radio frequency interference (RFI) was performed to survey the less contaminated spectral region. The results of these measurements permitted the establishment of the technical requirements for receiving a chain for the SADino telescope. In this paper, the design, implementation, and characterization of this signal acquisition chain are proposed. The operative frequency window of SAAD and its precursor, SADino, sweeps from 260 MHz to 420 MHz, which appears very attractive for radio astronomy applications and radar observation in space and surveillance awareness (SSA) activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly increasing number of satellites in Earth's orbit motivates the development of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities using wide field-of-view sensor systems that can perform simultaneous detections. This work demonstrates preliminary orbit determination capability for Low Earth Orbit objects using the 36 ° × 36 ° field-of-view of the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) at commercial Frequency Modulated (FM) frequencies (transmitters in 88 - 108 MHz range). Non-coherent passive radar techniques with the MWA produce spatially smeared detections, due to time averaging in the MWA's standard signal processing chain. The work develops methods to extract time-stamped measurements of a satellite's angular coordinates from these data. The developed method was tested on observations of 32 satellite passes and the extracted measurements were used to perform orbit determination for the targets using a least-squares fitting approach. The target satellites span a range in altitude and Radar Cross Section, providing examples of both high and low signal-to-noise detections. The estimated orbital elements for the satellites are validated against the publicly available Two Line Element (TLE) updates provided by the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) and the preliminary estimates are found to be in close agreement. The work also tests for re-acquisition for one target using the orbital elements and finds the trajectory predicted by the method to coincide within 0.2 ° cross-track and 0.3 ° in-track for a subsequent pass, reduced to approximately 0.1 ° cross-track (less than one kilometre) if two passes are used to predict the subsequent pass (using simple two-body propagation). The median uncertainty in the angular position for objects in LEO (range less than 1000 km) is found to be 860 m in the cross-track direction and 780 m in the in-track direction, which are comparable to the typical uncertainty of ∼ 1000 m in the publicly available TLE information. The techniques, therefore, demonstrate the MWA to be capable of being a valuable contributor to the global SDA community. Based on the understanding of the MWA SDA system, this paper also briefly describes methods to mitigate the impact of FM-reflecting LEO satellites on radio astronomy observations, and how maintaining a catalog of FM-reflecting LEO objects is in the best interests of both SDA and radio astronomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of computers and the role of women in radio astronomy and X-ray crystallography research at the Cavendish Laboratory between 1949 and 1975 have been investigated. We recorded examples of when computers were used, what they were used for and who used them from hundreds of papers published during these years. The use of the EDSAC, EDSAC 2 and TITAN computers was found to increase considerably over this time-scale and they were used for a diverse range of applications. The majority of references to computer operators and programmers referred to women, 57% for astronomy and 62% for crystallography, in contrast to a very small proportion, 4% and 13% respectively, of female authors of papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents results of calculating the RATAN-600 beam pattern (BP) and BP drift scans of point radio sources in the West Sector radio telescope operation mode at a frequency of 4.7 GHz. When calculating the BP, the properties of the radio telescope antenna system in this operation mode were taken into account: the use of a large secondary mirror, asymmetric radiation of the primary mirror, and the location of the primary feeds (feed horns) along the focal line of the secondary mirror. The shape of the calculated drift scans of sources through the BP is compared with that of the experimental drift scans of sources obtained from observations in the West Sector. The main characteristics of the drift scans are calculated and compared when the radio telescope operates with the West and North Sectors. A new method for determination of flux densities of sources passing through the BP outside its central cross-section is proposed, and its accuracy is estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the first results of observations with the Ultra-Long-Wavelength (ULW) —- Low Frequency Interferometer and Spectrometer (LFIS) on board the selenocentric satellite Longjiang-2. We present a brief description of the satellite and focus on the LFIS payload. The in-orbit commissioning confirmed a reliable operational status of the instrumentation. We also present results of a transition observation, which offers unique measurements on several novel aspects. We estimate the RFI suppression required for such a radio astronomy instrumentation at the Moon-distances from Earth as order of − 80 dB. We analyse a method of separating Earth- and satellite-originated radio frequency interference (RFI). It is found that the RFI level at frequencies lower than a few MHz is smaller than the receiver noise floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the observation results with the single-mirror radio telescope RT-22 (PRAO, LPI) in the water vapor maser line at 22 GHz in the direction of dust clumps from the ATLASGAL and Bolocam large-scale blind surveys in the millimeter continuum. The aim of this paper is to search for masers in the water vapor line in previously unexplored sources and to study the variability of known masers. Observations of 140 sources resulted in the detection of maser emission at 22 GHz in six sources, and in four sources (ATLASGAL 016.987+00.981, 017.216+00.821, 018.701–00.229, and Bolocam 081.174–00.100) masers were detected for the first time. In two sources (ATLASGAL 034.195–0.592 and Bolocam 081.174–0.1), the water vapor line masers showed significant variability during the 8-month observation and follow-up program. Comparison of RT-22 observational data with archival data from the GBT‑100 telescope (US National Radio Astronomy Observatory) showed that 9 out of 140 sources show a significant change in the radiation flux density of masers: two sources changed from the category of masers with low brightness ( Jy) to the category bright (more than 10 Jy), and in seven relatively bright earlier (more than 3 Jy) masers, no radiation was detected. Significant changes in the characteristics of the maser emission may indicate changes in the environmental conditions in which the maser emission was produced, which is of interest for further study of maser-related processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreground mitigation is critical to all next-generation radio interferometers that target cosmology using the redshifted neutral hydrogen 21 cm emission line. Attempts to remove this foreground emission have led to new analysis techniques as well as new developments in hardware specifically dedicated to instrument beam and gain calibration, including stabilized signal injection into the interferometric array and drone-based platforms for beam mapping. The radio calibration sources currently used in the literature are broad-band incoherent sources that can only be detected as excess power and with no direct sensitivity to phase information. In this paper, we describe a digital radio source which uses Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) derived time stamps to form a deterministic signal that can be broadcast from an aerial platform. A copy of this source can be deployed locally at the instrument correlator such that the received signal from the aerial platform can be correlated with the local copy, and the resulting correlation can be measured in both amplitude and phase for each interferometric element. We define the requirements for such a source, describe an initial implementation and verification of this source using commercial Software Defined Radio boards, and present beam map slices from antenna range measurements using the commercial boards. We found that the commercial board did not meet all requirements, so we also suggest future directions using a more sophisticated chipset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio astronomy uses radio telescopes to detect very faint emissions from celestial objects. However, human-made radio frequency interference (RFI) is currently a common problem faced by most terrestrial radio telescopes, and it is getting worse with the development of the economy and technology. Therefore, it is essential to monitor and evaluate interference during the planning, construction, and operation stages of the radio telescope and protect the quiet radio environment around the radio astronomical site. In this paper, we present a software for an RFI analysis of the radio environment around the telescope. In this software, information has been collected, including the location of the site; the technical specifications, such as aperture and the frequency range of the radio telescopes; and the terrain around the site. The software and its modules are composed of telescope, geographic, and meteorological databases, and analysis modules of terrestrial and space-based RFI. Combined with the propagation characteristics of radio waves, we can analyze and evaluate RFI on the ground and in space around the radio telescope. The feasibility of the software has been proved by the experimental implementation of the propagation properties and RFI source estimation. With this software, efficient technical support can be expected for protecting the radio environment around the telescope, as well as improving site selection for planned radio astronomical facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baghdad University Radio Telescope (BURT) is a 3 meter radio telescope that was installed in the main campus of the University of Baghdad in Jadiriyah. Radio telescopes, in general, offer a wide range of applications in radio astronomy, which are usually used to detect the neutral hydrogen emission line at a wavelength of 21 cm. One of the key applications of BURT is to observe the Milky Way galaxy and to determine its rotation curve. However, performing such observations requires accurate determination of the appropriate observing time as well as the coordinates. This paper focuses on how the observing time and coordinates are calculated correctly and accurately. The horizontal coordinate that corresponds to the galactic coordinates (b=0° and 0° ≤ l ≤ 90°) in every single day of 2023 at 10 am have been calculated using a c++ code that has been written for the purpose of this work. The results showed that the appropriate time for observing the Milky Way using BURT in 2023 is during January, February, March, November and December of 2023. The medians of altitude during those months are 50.9798°, 62.7919°, 50.6198°, 9.6562° and 30.5041°, respectively. During those months, the altitude is found, in general, larger than zero which means that the galactic position is above the horizon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is about the Data Processing Center (DPC) working within the RadioAstron project. Since the launch of the space radio telescope to orbit in July 2011, the DPC underwent significant quantitative and qualitative changes as the project developed. This paper describes the schemes, structure, stages of the processing center development, current upgrades and new technologies introduced in the DPC throughout the entire period of its operation. For technical reasons, the scheduled observations in the project were terminated in January 2019. However, still the work of the DPC continued. Today, the most valuable thing we have is information. There is now a unique archive of service and scientific data of the project in our possession, and a data bank of the RadioAstron project is underway, which will ensure a proper access to scientific and service information for all interested experts, as well as provide an opportunity for an additional data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory is a next-generation radio astronomy facility that has recently entered into the construction phase, after successful completion of the design and prototyping phases during 2013–2021. Planned to be operational by the end of this decade, the SKA is expected to revolutionise astronomy by allowing cutting edge explorations in an extremely wide range of science areas, while driving the growth of many important new state-of-the-art technologies. There are more than 10 countries currently participating in the international consortium to build this facility, which will be co-located in Australia and South Africa with the global headquarters in the United Kingdom. Indian scientists and engineers have played a significant role since the beginning: from the definition of the SKA concept and its science case, to some important aspects of the design of the instrument and the prototyping activities. India is now getting ready to join the construction phase of the SKA with a well defined proposal for technical activities spanning a few different areas of work. Along with this, Indian astronomers are busy refining their science case for the SKA and preparing in different ways to be ready for front line science with the facility as and when it is commissioned. All these activities are coordinated by the SKA India consortium, which currently has a membership of more than 20 institutions across the country. In this paper, we describe the current status of the SKA project, and focus on India's role—past contributions, ongoing activities and future plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides analyses of the emission beam structure of 76 'B'-named pulsars within the Arecibo sky. Most of these objects are included in both the Gould & Lyne and LOFAR High Band surveys and thus complement our other works treating various parts of these populations. These comprise a further group of mostly well-studied pulsars within the Arecibo sky that we here treat similarly to those in Olszanski et al. – and extend our overall efforts to study all of the pulsars in both surveys. The analyses are based on observations made with the Arecibo Telescope at 327 MHz and 1.4 GHz. Many have been observed at frequencies down to 100 MHz using either LOFAR or the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory as well as a few with the Long Wavelength Array at lower frequencies. This work uses the Arecibo observations as a foundation for interpreting the low frequency profiles and emission-beam geometries. We attempt to build quantitative geometric emission-beam models using the core/double-cone topology, while reviewing the evidence of previous studies and arguments for previous classifications on these sources. These efforts were successful for all but two pulsars, and interesting new subpulse modulation patterns were identified in a number of the objects. We interpret the Arecibo pulsar population in the context of the entire population of 'B' pulsars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a low-noise microwave amplifier based on up- and down-frequency-conversion processes in quasiparticle superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions. The SIS amplifier was configured with two SIS frequency-converter modules and a cryogenic millimeter-wave isolator inserted between them. Moreover, a local oscillator (LO) using millimeter-wave attenuators and a phase shifter was considered. This setup allowed the control of individual LO power and differential phase in these SIS frequency converters to optimize the amplifier performance. The SIS amplifier showed noise temperatures as low as 11 K and a 6–8 dB gain from nearly DC to 5 GHz. The attained microwave performance is promising for obtaining large-format arrays, such as multibeam heterodyne receivers. Moreover, this two-frequency-converter concept based on SIS junctions might enable microwave applications, such as wideband non-reciprocal circuits in isolators, gyrators, and circulators, which are essential devices in the quantum computing and radio astronomy fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern studies of solar radio emission are complicated by continuous power amplification and multifrequency external interference, which often completely overlap important frequency ranges. Many topical problems in solar radio astronomy require large effective areas of radio telescopes, high frequency and time resolutions, accurate spatial measurements, and a large dynamic range. It becomes relevant to change the concept of receiving recording equipment. This paper deals with topical problems of the physics of the solar corona in combination with optimal methods of observation with large instruments. The features and difficulties of combining high parameters—dynamic, spatial, temporal, and frequency resolutions—are considered. The proposed solutions of the new-generation observation complex implement the possibilities of intelligent selection of registration conditions in a multioctave mode with multichannel over 8000 channels/GHz with temporary permission up to 8 ms/spectrum. A multiobject observation mode becomes available from powerful flaring objects to faint structures of various nature. High-speed data processing makes it possible to implement an online mode of interference elimination, which is based on a fast statistical analysis of the spectrum with the selection of non-Gaussian (interference) structures. Methods for high-speed analysis of large-volume data (the principal component analysis method) and their presentation to the user are proposed. Examples of the operation of the complex in the range of 1–3 GHz are given. The prospects of a new approach for multiobject radio astronomy observations in the implementation of the RATAN-600 tracking mode are considered: from recombination lines to wide-range spectra, from low-contrast fluctuations to fast changes in flares, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delingha 13.7 m telescope is one of the most important radio telescopes in China. Since installing the superconducting spectroscopic array receiver (SSAR) and adopting the On The Fly (OTF) observation mode, the telescope has operated for nearly 10 years. During this period, a large number of astronomical observation projects have been carried out and completed, a large amount of astronomical data have been accumulated, and a series of important scientific results have been achieved. This paper introduces the operating status of SSAR in astronomical observations, the problems in operations, as well as the fault phenomena and solutions. The performance test and performance analysis of SSAR are described in detail, including the receiver noise temperature and telescope system noise temperature, image rejection ratio (IRR), receiver stability, beam performance and so on. The updating and development of SSAR are listed, including the automatic adjustment of LO (Local Oscillator) power, the updating of pre-amplification circuits of the sideband separation superconducting mixer, and the optimization of control program, etc. This paper summarizes the experiences and rules, and connects the past with the future, for applying the experiences of the maintenance and operation of SSAR to the next-generation large-scale receiver system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) initiated a national flagship project in 2017 for development of radio astronomy and geodesy in Thailand. In this project, a 40-m Thai National Radio Telescope (TNRT) and a 13-m VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS) radio telescope as its co-location are constructed in Chiang Mai. The 40-m TNRT is the largest telescope for radio astronomy in South-East Asia. Its flexible operation with a wide-coverage of observable frequencies 0.3-115 GHz will allow us to uniquely contribute to the time-domain astronomy as well as carry out unbiased surveys for a wide variety of science research fields, which were published in a white paper. Within the framework of collaboration with VLBI arrays in the world, TNRT will drastically improve the imaging quality and performances based on its unique geographical location, for both radio astronomy and geodetic VLBI studies in South-East Asia for the first time. On-going commissioning of TNRT particularly in the L-band system (1.0–1.8 GHz) is introduced as well as vision for establishment of forthcoming regional VLBI networks based on TNRT: Thai National VLBI Array and South-East Asian VLBI Network in collaboration with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 4 July 2022, a complex low-frequency solar radio burst was observed in Metsähovi Radio Observatory of Aalto University. The radio burst was observed at a frequency range between 20 and 80 MHz. In GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) class, the event was classified as C5.1. However, coronal mass ejection (CME) was not associated to this event. The observed radio burst was a long-lasting (~10 minutes) event, and it could be mainly classified as type II solar radio event. Also type III solar events were observed before long-lasting type II event. The event includes common frequency drifting emission structures, both fundamental and harmonic structures, but also rarely observed continuum-like or stationary structure. It is assumed that the continuum-like radio emission structure is originated from the stationary flare (coronal) loop, which was visible over the whole event. The drifting emission structure means accelerated electrons, which are produced by the shock related phenomena. The paper provides the observations from this event on radio wavelength, and also soft-X-ray regime and optical wavelength (AIA 171). In addition, a possible, simplified scenario is presented for forming the drifting and continuum solar radio emissions in type II solar burst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the fall of the Arecibo 305 m telescope platform on 2020 December 1, there has been much discussion of building a new Arecibo telescope or rebuilding the facility that was destroyed. In the collapse, the top of the three platform support towers was sheared off, and the feed arm fell free from the swinging platform and destroyed 25% of the dish. Fortunately, the Control Building, the home of the computers, spectrometers, masers, atomic clocks, 430 MHz Klystrons, etc., was spared. By replacing the main dish support cables and resurfacing with coarse mesh, the main dish can be repaired as a reflector for < HF operation. By replacing the damaged aluminum panels to make the dish whole again, RF operations at up to 500 MHz can be resumed. In this paper, we outline the steps that can be taken to restore High Frequency (HF, 3–30 MHz) ionospheric heating, 430 MHz ionospheric incoherent scattering radar, passive radio observations of satellite arcing and pulsars, and to extend the field of regard to 47∘ from the zenith. This would restore and improve much of the utility of the Arecibo dish. Part of this plan involves supporting, positioning and pointing novel point feeds from lightweight football-camera-like cables, strung from the rebuilt tower tops. It is believed that the dish may thus become broadly useful long before replacement facilities can be engineered and constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) observatory is a next-generation radio astronomy facility, which is just started its construction, after successful completion of the design and early prototyping phases. With more than 12 countries currently participating in the international consortium to build this facility, the SKA is expected to revolutionize radio astronomy, while driving the growth of many important new state of the art technologies. Once completed and fully operational by the turn of this decade, the SKA observatory will offer cutting edge science capabilities in an extremely broad range of topics in astrophysics. Indian scientists and engineers have played a significant role in the definition of the SKA concept and its science case as well as in the design of the instrument. India is now getting ready to join the construction phase of the SKA, and Indian astronomers are preparing to engage in front line science with the facility as and when it is ready. This paper describes the current status of this global project with a focus on India’s role in the collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The far-field pattern of a geometrically large and complex antenna used in low-frequency radio astronomy is computationally expensive to simulate on electromagnetic simulators, such as FEKO. For example, one station of the Square Kilometer Array, which consists of 256 log-periodic antenna elements, will take years to simulate using the full CAD model for the full operational frequency band. This paper focuses on reducing the simulation time for a single antenna element by simplifying the simulation model, thus decreasing the number of unknowns that have to be solved in a simulation. An iterative process for optimizing the simplification of such an element is described, while keeping the reflection coefficient within 1 dB absolute mean deviation of the measured data. After four iterations, the amount of unknowns to be solved, which includes the number of triangles and segments, was reduced from 29,307 to 11,991. This decreased the computation time by 86.5%, making array simulations feasible. Using the techniques described in the paper, other antenna constructions can benefit from it and be simulated more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence is widely spreading in all modern technologies. Such a very powerful methodology can have important applications in radio astronomy technology, for instance, in the new DBBC4 VLBI backend development project and in the low frequency array AntArr under development on the Etna slopes in Italy. In the present paper, we describe the method currently adopted for those projects and some possible applications, which could provide substantial new features in this decade to the radio astronomy science and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays there is increasing interest in narrowing coronal areas with reduced brightness temperatures (LTR – Low Temperature Regions) associated with local open magnetic fields (S-web, "coronal partings", "dark coronal corridors") as one of the eventual sources of slow solar wind. Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) performs routine spectral polarimetric observations of the Sun with RT-32 radio telescope equipped with the multi-channel (16 frequency channels) spectral polarimeter for the wave length range of 3.2–4.7 cm (6.3–9.3 GHz) and both circular polarizations simultaneously. The analysis of relevant tasks of clear and reliable observations and detections of LTR shows the necessity to improve noise parameters, dynamic range and stability of the actual solar spectral polarimeter and to expand its wavelength range. Taking into account these requirements, the low noise and thermally stabilized solar spectral polarimeter was developed. The new multi-channel spectral polarimeter is expected to observe right and left circular polarization of the solar emission in the wavelength range of 2.1–7.5 cm (4.1–14.3 GHz) divided into 12 frequency bands. The dynamic range was expanded to >36 db and the signal/noise ratio (referred to as quiet Sun brightness temperatures) was enhanced to > 22–24 db. The paper deals with some test observations of the newly developed solar spectral polar-imeter and its feature analysis. Some eventual problems of solar physics which could be solved with the spectral polarimeter are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the rise of satellite television, radio telescopes in the Ku‐band (12–18 GHz) constitute a potential alternative to introduce low‐scale astronomical observatories and amateur astronomers to radio astronomy. In this paper, we show a methodology for the calibration of Ku‐band radio telescopes and the evaluation of the techniques used for the observation of celestial bodies in this frequency range. To reduce the pointing error, we present a method of observation through matrix windows around the Sun. By observing the solar transits, our methodology allows to determine the system temperature, the beamwidth, the gain, the effective area, and the efficiency of the radio telescope. In addition, we developed the Compact Radio Telescope (CRT) software, designed to perform the calibration, and carry out observations. We tested our methodology with the Ku‐band radio telescope of the Observatorio Astronómico of the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (OAUTP), Colombia. After observing the Sun and the Moon, we obtained a brightness temperature of 8,600 ± 800 K and 240 ± 50 K, and radiation fluxes of 2,970,000 ± 690,000 Jy and 55,000 ± 10,000 Jy, respectively. These observations demonstrated the usefulness of our methodology and CRT software in the calibration of compact Ku‐band radio telescopes for the observation of celestial bodies in radio waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large deployable antennas are required for the advancement of space communications, Earth observation, radio astronomy and deep space exploration. Most contemporary space antennas have exceeded the size of launching vehicles, leading to the necessity of stowed concepts to overcome the limitation. Many structural models have been investigated by different organizations. Generally, mesh deployable reflectors are currently more mature compared to other foldable solutions. This will be the topic of this paper. Orbital disturbances, perturbations originated by on-board sources and thermal deformations affecting the deployed configuration can deteriorate the accuracy of the communications system. Undesired dynamic behaviour of structural components has to be predicted and counteracted. Therefore, vibration control is a key technology to correct the distortions altering the proper functioning of the system. An intelligent active structure is introduced as a structure configured with distributed actuators and sensors and guided by a controller to modify the dynamic response of the system. In this paper, the supporting structure of a very large mesh reflector is described. A FEM formulation is adopted to assemble the frame and it is validated by comparing it with commercial codes. According to the adopted model, the active elements can be embedded in the middle of the truss elements. Of course, active control of all the devices at the same time requires a control effort which could be not affordable in space applications. However, the effectiveness is not the same for all the actuators. In this study, two cascade optimization procedures are performed to assess the best positioning and velocity feedback gains of the actuators that must be controlled to damp vibrations. In particular, a gradient-based technique is used after both a Genetic Algorithm and a Reinforcement Learning methodology to find the best set of gains for the controller. The objective function is set as a weighted sum of power consumption of the actuators. As a study case, the spacecraft implements a velocity feedback strategy when performing a generic attitude manoeuvre to coordinate the simultaneous action of the devices to ensure the damping performance of the system is enhanced. In addition, the impact of damaged actuators and uncertainties on the mechanical properties of the passive structure has been discussed and analysed. • Dynamics and control of large space structures. • Vibration suppression via smart materials. • Active truss-like structures modeling. • Genetic Algorithm and Reinforcement Learning methodology for optimization. • Robustness of the controller is verified by means Monte Carlo analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite communication systems (SCSs) are gaining interest from industries because of their ubiquitous wireless access and backhaul capabilities. However, the NGSO SCSs’ global downlink transmission can cause radio frequency interference (RFI) to the radio astronomy system (RAS) on earth. Thus, this paper first investigates RFI impacts of a large-scale NGSO SCS. Our RFI analyses show that a large-scale low earth orbit (LEO) SCS completely disrupts RAS’s continuum observation within or adjacent to the SCS downlink bands, which limits coexistence and growths of both SCS and RAS. To overcome such limitation, we propose a new paradigm where SCS and RAS are integrated into the NGSO satellite system, thus effectively creating large-scale telescopes in orbit. This integrated system not only avoids SCS’s RFI to RAS but also offers more spectrum access opportunities to both SCS and RAS. In addition, this paper addresses two related problems of the new paradigm, namely, the spectrum resource allocation problem and the RAS data transport problem. Our performance evaluation illustrates the advantages of the proposed paradigm in terms of accessible spectrum bands, RAS observation performance, and SCS maximum mean supportable data rate as well as enabling coexistence and growths of both types of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mexican Array Radio Telescope (MEXART), located in the state of Michoacan in Mexico, has been operating in an analog fashion, utilizing a Butler Matrix to generate fixed beams on the sky, since its inception. Calibrating this instrument has proved difficult, leading to loss in sensitivity. It was also a rigid setup, requiring manual intervention and tuning for different observation requirements. The Radio Frequency (RF) system has now been replaced with a digital one. This digital backend is a hybrid system utilizing both FPGA-based technology and GPU acceleration, and is capable of automatically calibrating the different rows of the array, as well as generating a configurable number of frequency-domain synthesized beams to towards selected locations on the sky. A monitoring and control system, together with a full-featured web-based front-end, has also been developed, greatly simplifying the interaction with the instrument. This paper presents the design, implementation and deployment of the new digital backend, including preliminary analysis of system performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of Faraday rotation of linearly polarized synchrotron emission in a magneto-ionized medium has been understood and studied for decades. But since the sense of the rotation itself is irrelevant in most contexts, some uncertainty and inconsistencies have arisen in the literature about this detail. Here, we start from basic plasma theory to describe the propagation of polarized emission from a background radio source through a magnetized, ionized medium in order to re-derive the correct sense of Faraday rotation. We present simple graphics to illustrate the decomposition of a linearly polarized wave into right and left circularly polarized modes, the temporal and spatial propagation of the phases of those modes, and the resulting physical rotation of the polarization orientation. We then re-examine the case of a medium that both Faraday rotates and emits polarized radiation and show how a helical magnetic field can construct or destruct the Faraday rotation. This paper aims to resolve a source of confusion that has arisen between the plasma physics and radio astronomy communities and to help avoid common pitfalls when working with this unintuitive phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio astronomy and Space Infrastructures in the Azores have a great scientific and industrial interest because they benefit from a unique geographical location in the middle of the North Atlantic allowing a vast improvement in the sky coverage. This fact obviously has a very high added value for: i) the establishment of space tracking and communications networks for the emergent global small satellite fleets ii) it is invaluable to connect the radio astronomy infrastructure networks in Africa, Europe and America continents using Very Large Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) techniques, iii) it allows excellent potential for monitoring space debris and Near Earth Objects (NEOs). There is in S. Miguel island a 32-metre SATCOM antenna that could be integrated in advanced VLBI networks and be capable of additional Deep Space Network ground support. This paper explores the space science opportunities offered by the upgrade of the S. Miguel 32-metre SATCOM antenna into a world-class infrastructure for radio astronomy and space exploration: it would enable a Deep Space Network mode and would constitute a key space facility for data production, promoting local digital infrastructure investments and the testing of cutting-edge information technologies. Its Atlantic location also enables improvements in angular resolution, provides many baselines in East–West and North–South directions connecting the emergent VLBI stations in America to Europe and Africa VLBI arrays therefore contributing for greater array imaging capabilities especially for sources or well studied fields close to or below the celestial equator, where ESO facilities, ALMA, SKA and its precursors do or will operate and observe in the coming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-metal 3D printing fabrication technologies provide an attractive alternative for direct manufacturing of waveguide components due to fast and cost-effective prototyping and the possibility to fabricate geometries which cannot be fabricated with traditional machining techniques. In radio astronomy, waveguide components in radio receivers are operated at cryogenic temperatures and inside a cryostat under vacuum conditions. In this paper, we report on the design, fabrication by 3D printing and testing at room and cryogenic temperatures of a corrugated horn to be used in astronomical receivers operating in the 35–50-GHz band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Martin Ryle and the 50th anniversary of the discovery of pulsars by Jocelyn Bell and Antony Hewish. Ryle and Hewish received the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics, the first in the area of astrophysics. Their interests strongly overlapped, one of the key papers on the practical implementation of the technique of aperture synthesis being co-authored by Ryle and Hewish. The discovery of pulsars and the roles played by Hewish and Bell are described. These key advances were at the heart of the dramatic rise of high-energy astrophysics in the 1960s and led to the realization that general relativity is central to the understanding of high-energy astrophysical phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]