Aperture Spherical Telescope Research Articles

An introduction to major astronomical projects in China and plans for the future

AbstractThis report is a general introduction to Chinese major astronomical projects. It includes the ongoing project ‘Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope’ (LAMOST), and three major projects which have finished their feasibility study and development of key technologies: Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical (radio) Telescope (FAST); Space Solar Telescope (SST); Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT). Among them, FAST and HXMT have been approved by government in 2006, and SST is pending for the next five years plan. Besides these major projects, a site survey in the west of China, a plan for developing Antarctic Dome A for astronomy, and a preliminary study of Chinese future giant optical/infrared telescopes are also briefly introduced.

Present and future Chinese large telescope projects

This report is a general introduction on Chinese large telescope projects. It includes the ongoing project Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST),and three projects which have reviewed by Chinese government recently: Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical (radio) Telescope (FAST); Space Solar Telescope (SST); Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT). These three projects have finished their feasibility studies and development of key technologies. They are very likely to be approved by the Chinese government in 2006. Besides these large telescope projects, the site survey in Western China for large telescopes in optical, infrared, sub-millimeter and millimeter astronomy, the preliminary study on Chinese future giant optical/infrared telescopes, and a future extremely large wide field telescope are also briefly introduced.

Modeling of A Feed Support System for Fast

As an engineering demonstrator for SKA, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is proposed in China. This paper is focused on one of the most critical components of FAST, the feed support system. The engineering concept, the configuration and results from model experiments are presented. The mechanical characteristics of the structure are analyzed. The performance of the feedback control system of the model is described. The feasibility of the design is tentatively confirmed by the experiments described at the end of the report.

New Radio Science Facilities for Compact Objects

In a throwback to the early days in radio astronomy, new concepts for radio telescopes are being considered as next-generation facilities. The Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) and the Square-Kilometer Array (SKA) are two particular projects that will incorporate innovations in hardware and software. Along the way to these projects, major surveys for pulsars and transients and/or follow-up pulsar timing observations will be conducted with the ALFA multibeam system at Arecibo, the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), the Extended VLA (EVLA) and with SKA prototype systems that include the European MBRACE project (Multibeam Radio Astronomy Concept Experiment) and China's FAST (500m Aperture Spherical Telescope). These projects are discussed here in the context of anticipated science drivers.

Experimental Research of First Feed-Support System of Fast

First feed support system, which is one of the key technologies of Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) was discussed in this paper. A 1:30 scaled model (20 m × 20 m × 6 m) has been built to make systemic research on the feasibility of the system. The root mean square of pointing error of moving cable car was measured and the displacements of cable car within the wind speed of 8 m/s, which is the maximal wind speed of the place where the FAST will be located, were evaluated. Then the total maximal pointing error of cable car was computed. Experimental results demonstrate that the total pointing error of the cable car is less than 50 cm, the required pointing accuracy error of the system.

The Development of the FAST Project in China

Acting as a pilot of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) has been proposed for construction in the unique karst area of southwest China. FAST is of Arecibo-type with rather a number of innovations, among which the active main spherical reflector shows fascinating. Furthermore, the feed cabin is supported and moved by cables controlled by computer, which avoids a heavy and expensive focal pointing system. With the effective aperture of 300 m, a large sky coverage, and a broad bandwidth (200 to 2000 MHz), possible capability up to 5 ∼8 GHz, FAST will be the world's largest single dish and perform markedly role in radio astronomy.

The Influence of Panel Gaps on the System Noise Temperature of the FAST

A Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), the largest single dish in the world, is proposed to be built in one of the karst depressions in Guizhou province. The main spherical reflector is to consist of about two thousand small panels, which can be adjusted to fit a paraboloid in real time. There are many slit-like gaps across the aperture due to manufacturing error, thermal eects and deviations between a sphere and a paraboloid. The influence of the energy leakage of the narrow gaps on the system noise temperature of the FAST reflector is discussed in this paper.

Five-Hundred-Meter Aperture Spherical Telescope Project

AbstractA Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is proposed to be built in the unique karst area of southwest China, and will act, in a sense, as a prototype for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). It will be over twice as large as the Arecibo telescope coupled with much wider sky coverage. Some results from site surveys for such a SKA concept are briefly reported. Technically, FAST is not simply a copy of the existing Arecibo telescope but has rather a number of innovations. Firstly, the proposed main spherical reflector, by conforming to a paraboloid of revolution in real time through actuated active control, enables the realization of both wide bandwidth and full polarization capability while using standard feed design. Secondly, a feed support system which integrates optical, mechanical and electronic technologies will effectively reduce the cost of the support structure and control system. Pre-research on FAST has become a key project in the CAS.

A Potential Site for the World's Largest Single Dish, FAST

We have carried out a series of measurements at some locations in Guizhou Province and one additional site at the Urumqi Astronomical Station in the Xinjiang autonomous region, to check on their suitability, from the point of view of interference, for the construction of a Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). This large facility will in some sense act as a prototype for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). Measurements were made using a commercial receiver in the frequency range 25–1500 MHz. The results in Guizhou look quite promising. A protected radio quiet zone in Guizhou would make it an ideal location for an international radio astronomical facility, and would establish the FAST site as a natural SKA location.

Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope project

A Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is proposed to be built in the unique karst area of southwest China, and will act, in a sense, as a prototype for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). It will be over twice as large as the Arecibo telescope coupled with much wider sky coverage. Some results from site surveys for such a SKA concept are briefly reported. Technically, FAST is not simply a copy of the existing Arecibo telescope but has rather a number of innovations. Firstly, the proposed main spherical reflector, by conforming to a paraboloid of revolution in real time through actuated active control, enables the realization of both wide bandwidth and full polarization capability while using standard feed design. Secondly, a feed support system which integrates optical, mechanical and electronic technologies will effectively reduce the cost of the support structure and control system. Pre-research on FAST has become a key project in the CAS.

Analysis for Reflector Aluminum Mesh Panels of Five-Hundred Meter Aperture Spherical Telescope

AbstractIn this paper, an analysis of the aluminum reflector mesh panels for the Five-hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is described. The study concentrates on one element of the reflector surface with the shape of a triangle. For the analysis, the panel is modelled as a mesh of cables so that it can be treated as continuous. It is demonstrated that the results so obtained are reasonable.

Proposal to construct a five hundred meter aperture (active) spherical telescope (FAST)

Proposal to construct a five hundred meter aperture (active) spherical telescope (FAST)