Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
10:35
Bringing the Visible Universe into Focus with Robo-AO
Published on: February 12, 2013
19.5K
Microwave Receiving System Based on Cryogenic Sensors for the Optical Big Telescope Alt-Azimuth
Yurii Balega1, Grigory Bubnov2, Artem Chekushkin3
1Special Astrophysical Observatory RAS, Nizhnii Arkhyz 369167, Russia.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 23, 2024
Summary
This study evaluates using the Big Telescope Alt-Azimuthal for radio astronomy at 100-350 GHz. The findings suggest the site is suitable for radio astronomy and testing cryogenic detectors.
Area of Science:
- Radio astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Observational astronomy
Background:
- The Big Telescope Alt-Azimuthal (BTA) is an optical telescope.
- Radio astronomy studies require specific atmospheric transparency windows.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of conducting radio astronomy at 100, 230, and 350 GHz using the BTA.
- To identify potential astronomical targets and integration methods for radio receivers.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of atmospheric transparency windows at the BTA site.
- Consideration of astroclimatic conditions and interface requirements for radio receivers.
- Proposal of superconducting radio receiver arrays based on superconductor-insulator-normal metal-insulator-superconductor (SINIS) structures.
Main Results:
- The BTA site is suitable for radio astronomy observations in the specified frequency bands.
- Promising astronomical tasks have been identified.
- Integration of cryogenic detectors and interfaces for the BTA's optical focus is feasible.
Conclusions:
- The BTA can be utilized for radio astronomy, including Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and projects like the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and Millimetron.
- The observatory can serve as a platform for testing advanced cryogenic detectors in an operational environment.
