J. W. Kooi, R. A. Chamberlin, R. Monje, B. Force, D. Miller, T. G. Phillips
The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) is located on top of Mauna Kea,
Hawaii, at an altitude of 4.2 km. The existing suite of facility heterodyne
receivers covering the submillimeter band is rapidly aging and in need of
replacement. To facilitate deep integrations and automated spectral line
surveys, a family of remote programmable, synthesized, dual-frequency balanced
receivers covering the astronomical important 180 - 720 GHz atmospheric windows
is in an advanced stage of development. Installation of the first set of
receivers is expected in the spring of 2012.
Dual-frequency observation will be an important mode of operation offered by
the new facility instrumentation. Two band observations are accomplished by
separating the H and V polarizations of the incoming signal and routing them
via folded optics to the appropriate polarization sensitive balanced mixer.
Scientifically this observation mode facilitates pointing for the higher
receiver band under mediocre weather conditions and a doubling of scientific
throughput (2 x 4 GHz) under good weather conditions.
View original:
http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.6379
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