A VLBI receiving system for the South Pole Telescope

Junhan Kim, Daniel P. Marrone, Christopher Beaudoin, John E. Carlstrom, Shepherd S. Doeleman, Thomas W. Folkers, David Forbes, Christopher H. Greer, Eugene F. Lauria, Kyle D. Massingill, Evan Mayer, Chi H. Nguyen, George Reiland, Jason Soohoo, Antony A. Stark, Laura Vertatschitsch, Jonathan Weintroub, André Young

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is a very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) experiment that aims to observe supermassive black holes with an angular resolution that is comparable to the event horizon scale. The South Pole occupies an important position in the array, greatly increasing its north-south extent and therefore its resolution. The South Pole Telescope (SPT) is a 10-meter diameter, millimeter-wavelength telescope equipped for bolometric observations of the cosmic microwave background. To enable VLBI observations with the SPT we have constructed a coherent signal chain suitable for the South Pole environment. The dual-frequency receiver incorporates state-of-the-art SIS mixers and is installed in the SPT receiver cabin. The VLBI signal chain also includes a recording system and reference frequency generator tied to a hydrogen maser. Here we describe the SPT VLBI system design in detail and present both the lab measurements and on-sky results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IX
EditorsJonas Zmuidzinas, Jian-Rong Gao
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Print)9781510619692
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
EventMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IX 2018 - Austin, United States
Duration: Jun 12 2018Jun 15 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10708
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherMillimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IX 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAustin
Period6/12/186/15/18

Keywords

  • EHT
  • SIS receiver
  • SPT
  • VLBI
  • submillimeter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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