UWB active antenna array for low frequency radio astronomy

Abstract

The decameter wavelength range is of interest for radio astronomy at the present time. Construction of giant low-frequency radio telescopes has been planned and is being carried out in European Union (Low Frequency Array - LOFAR), USA (Long Wavelength Array - LWA) and in Ukraine (Giant Ukrainian Radio Telescope - GURT). The radio telescope GURT, which is being created in the Institute of Radio Astronomy of NAS of Ukraine, will operate over frequency range from 10 to 70 MHz. The antenna system of telescope will be a phased antenna array consisting of many subarrays, each of 5×5 elements. The array element is an active crossed dipole with inclined arms. Phasing inside one section is performed with analog phase shifter. Output signals of the subarrays are transformed into digital form and are processed in DSP-receiver. In this paper the subarray of the GURT radio telescope is considered. The design, electric circuit and some results of experimental and theoretical researches are given and described.