scholarly journals The new era of large paraboloid antennas: the life of Prof. Dr. Otto Hachenberg

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 321-324
Author(s):  
R. Wielebinski

Abstract. Seldom does a scientist get an opportunity in his lifetime to build an instrument that remains unchallenged as the world’s no. 1 for 30 years. The Effelsberg 100- m radio telescope, constructed under the direction of Prof. Dr. Otto Hachenberg, was the world’s largest fully steerable paraboloid antenna since its inauguration in 1971. The radio telescope in a valley in the Eifel mountains near Bonn was constructed with a remarkably precise surface and excellent pointing characteristics. Only in 2001 the 100-m × 110-m Green Bank Telescope became operational and marginally surpassed Effelsberg’s performance. The Effelsberg telescope is still fully operational in 2002 and looking forward to an exciting future. It is a memorial to the ingenuity of a person who influenced the development of German radio astronomy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Scholten ◽  
B. M. Hare ◽  
J. Dwyer ◽  
N. Liu ◽  
C. Sterpka ◽  
...  

AbstractThe common phenomenon of lightning still harbors many secrets such as what are the conditions for lightning initiation and what is driving the discharge to propagate over several tens of kilometers through the atmosphere forming conducting ionized channels called leaders. Since lightning is an electric discharge phenomenon, there are positively and negatively charged leaders. In this work we report on measurements made with the LOFAR radio telescope, an instrument primarily build for radio-astronomy observations. It is observed that a negative leader rather suddenly changes, for a few milliseconds, into a mode where it radiates 100 times more VHF power than typical negative leaders after which it spawns a large number of more typical negative leaders. This mode occurs during the initial stage, soon after initiation, of all lightning flashes we have mapped (about 25). For some flashes this mode occurs also well after initiation and we show one case where it is triggered twice, some 100 ms apart. We postulate that this is indicative of a small (order of 5 km$$^2$$ 2 ) high charge pocket. Lightning thus appears to be initiated exclusively in the vicinity of such a small but dense charge pocket.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-325
Author(s):  
S. V. Stepkin ◽  
◽  
O. O. Konovalenko ◽  
Y. V. Vasylkivskyi ◽  
D. V. Mukha ◽  
...  

Purpose: The analytical review of the main results of research in the new direction of the low-frequency radio astronomy, the interstellar medium radio spectroscopy at decameter waves, which had led to astrophysical discovery, recording of the radio recombination lines in absorption for highly excited states of interstellar carbon atoms (more than 600). Design/methodology/approach: The UTR-2 world-largest broadband radio telescope of decameter waves optimally connected with the digital correlation spectrum analyzers has been used. Continuous modernization of antenna system and devices allowed increasing the analysis band from 100 kHzto 24 MHz and a number of channels from 32 to 8192. The radio telescope and receiving equipment with appropriate software allowed to have a long efficient integration time enough for a large line series simultaneously with high resolution, noise immunity and relative sensitivity. Findings: A new type of interstellar spectral lines has been discovered and studied, the interstellar carbon radio recombination lines in absorption for the record high excited atoms with principal quantum numbers greater than 1000. The line parameters (intensity, shape, width, radial velocity) and their relation ship with the interstellar medium physical parameters have been determined. The temperature of line forming regions is about 100 K, the electron concentration up to 0.1 cm–3 and the size of a line forming region is about 10 pc. For the first time, radio recombination lines were observed in absorption. They have significant broadening and are amplified by the dielectronic-like recombination mechanism and are also the lowest frequency lines in atomic spectroscopy. Conclusions: The detected low-frequency carbon radio recombination lines and their observations have become a new highly effective tool for the cold partially ionized interstellar plasma diagnostics. Using them allows obtaining the information which is not available with the other astrophysical methods. For almost half a century of their research, a large amount of hardware-methodical and astrophysical results have been obtained including a record number of Galaxy objects, where there levant lines have been recorded. The domestic achievements have stimulated many theoretical and experimental studies in other countries, but the scientific achievements of Ukrainian scientists prove the best prospects for further development of this very important area of astronomical science. Key words: low-frequency radio astronomy; radio telescope; interstellar medium; radio recombination lines; carbon; hydrogen; spectral analyzer


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S337) ◽  
pp. 346-347
Author(s):  
Phrudth Jaroenjittichai

AbstractSince the first light of the 2.4-m Thai National Telescope in 2013, Thailand foresees another great leap forward in astronomy. A project known as “Radio Astronomy Network and Geodesy for Development” (RANGD) by National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) has been approved for year 2017-2021. A 40-m radio telescope has been planned to operate up to 115-GHz observation with prime-focus capability for low frequency and phased array feed receivers. The telescope’s first light is expected in late 2019 with a cryogenics K-band and L-band receivers. RFI environment at the site has been investigated and shown to be at reasonable level. A 13-m VGOS telescope is also included for geodetic applications. Early single-dish science will focus on time domain observations, such as pulsars and transients, outbursts and variability of maser and AGN sources.


2002 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
pp. 415-425
Author(s):  
Monique Pick

This review is concerned to study of sun at frequencies lower than 1.4 GHz. Emphasis is made on results which illustrate the topics in which GMRT could play a major role. Coordinated studies including spectral and imaging radio observations are important for research in solar physics. Joint observations between the Giant Meter Radio Telescope (GMRT) with radio instruments located in the same longitude range are encouraged. This review inludes three distinct topics: Electron beams and radio observations- Radio signatures of Coronal Mass Ejections- Radio signatures of coronal and interplanetary shocks.


2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (3) ◽  
pp. 3515-3530 ◽  
Author(s):  
A D Cameron ◽  
D Li ◽  
G Hobbs ◽  
L Zhang ◽  
C C Miao ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present timing solutions and analyses of 11 pulsars discovered by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). These pulsars were discovered using an ultrawide bandwidth receiver in drift-scan observations made during the commissioning phase of FAST, and were then confirmed and timed using the 64-m Parkes Radio Telescope. Each pulsar has been observed over a span of at least one year. Highlighted discoveries include PSR J0344−0901, which displays mode-changing behaviour and may belong to the class of so-called swooshing pulsars (alongside PSRs B0919+06 and B1859+07); PSR J0803−0942, whose emission is almost completely linearly polarized; and PSRs J1900−0134 and J1945+1211, whose well-defined polarization angle curves place stringent constraints on their emission geometry. We further discuss the detectability of these pulsars by earlier surveys, and highlight lessons learned from our work in carrying out confirmation and monitoring observations of pulsars discovered by a highly sensitive telescope, many of which may be applicable to next-generation pulsar surveys. This paper marks one of the first major releases of FAST-discovered pulsars, and paves the way for future discoveries anticipated from the Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey.


1980 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. E. Green

The conventional method of measuring the radiation diagram of an antenna is to rotate it in the field produced by a fixed point source located in its Fraunhofer zone (Hollis et al. (1970)). With the very large antennas typically used in radio astronomy this presents difficulties. For example, to measure the 64 m telescope at ANRAO, Parkes at frequencies in the OH transition lines band (1.6-1.7 GHz), the source, to be located in the Fraunhofer zone, must be located at least 50 km away and then at a sufficiently high angle to allow measurements free from ground effects to be made. Clearly there are no terrestrial means to accomplish this.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 458-460
Author(s):  
N. E. Kassim ◽  
S. D. Hyman ◽  
H. Intema ◽  
T. J. W. Lazio

AbstractAn upgrade of the low frequency observing system of the VLA developed by NRL and NRAO, called low band (LB), will open a new era of Galactic center (GC) transient monitoring. Our previous searches using the VLA and GMRT have revealed a modest number of radio-selected transients, but have been severely sensitivity and observing time limited. The new LB system, currently accessing the 236--492 MHz frequency range, promises ≥5 × improved sensitivity over the legacy VLA system. The new system is emerging from commissioning in time to catch any enhanced sub-GHz emission from the G2 cloud event, and we review existing limits based on recent observations. We also describe a proposed 24/7 commensal system, called the LOw Band Observatory (LOBO). LOBO offers over 100 VLA GC monitoring hours per year, possibly revealing new transients and helping validate ASTRO2010's anticipation of a new era of transient radio astronomy. A funded LOBO pathfinder called the VLA Low Frequency Ionosphere and Transient Experiment (VLITE) is under development. Finally, we consider the impact of LB and LOBO on our GC monitoring program.


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