| Description: | The second prototype of APERTIF (APERture Tile In Focus) is now ready to be mounted into RT5 of the WSRT, to replace the DIGital Early Stage Tile In Focus or DIGESTIF, the first demonstrator towards the focal plane array system. The main improvement is that the system noise is about 75 K, 50 K better than that of DIGESTIF. The prototype has been assembled after thoroughly testing each of the 144 elements.
The aim of the system is to upgrade the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). APERTIF aims to increase the field of view of the WSRT with a factor 37. This remarkable performance gain is achieved by placing a receiver array in the focus of each parabolic dish of the WSRT, instead of the single receiver element that the current system employs.
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