Daily Image
20-09-2007
Pioneering PFA's
| Submitter: | Rob Millenaar |
| Description: | The daily image of September 3 was dedicated to 'first light' on the DIGESTIF focal plane array (FPA) that is currently mounted in the focus of WSRT telescope 5. This milestone event was appropriately celebrated with cake in Dwingeloo and Westerbork. At this time only a couple of antenna elements are equipped with receiving electronics, but the project promises to deliver 60 signal paths to the correlator in just a matter of weeks. The project is a pathfinder in the application of these arrays in the focus of large reflecting surfaces. The pioneering spirit can be recognized in this image, where Wim is inspecting the spectrum of a geostationary satellite which serves as a handy test beacon. He will make sure to close the door later, to prevent digital RFI from leaking out the cabin and thereby disrupting the normal operations of the WSRT. Wim is a privileged person: who wouldn't like to have a test setup like this at his disposal... |
| Copyright: | ASTRON |
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