Sensitivity simulation and measurement of the SKA Band 1 wideband feed package on MeerKAT

• Advances in wideband feed technology for radio telescopes enable high sensitivity observations over large bandwidths. The wideband quad-ridge flared horn (QRFH) feed package for Band 1 of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) was optimized for high sensitivity. The 3:1 feed package covers 350-1050 MHz and is a complete room temperature system with low-noise amplifiers integrated inside the ridges of the horn. The QRFH is dual-linear polarized and designed with spline-defined profiles for the horn and ridge shape. Measured feed s-parameters show input reflection less than -11 dB across the band with good port isolation. In this paper we present the first measured sensitivity levels of the Band 1 feed package, which was tested on the SKA precursor reflector MeerKAT. We also present measured aperture efficiency and intrinsic cross-polarization (IXR). The measured results show good agreement with simulations.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

meerkat.

wideband

measurement

antenna

square kilometre array

quad-ridge flared horn

Publikations- och innehållstyp

kon (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)