Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 Wideband Integrated Antennas DS4-T4 Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate ASTRON

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Wideband Integrated Antennas Task objectives: –To design a tile of wide-band, low-cost, antenna elements appropriate for dual-polarized, close-packed phased arrays and to optimize their RF performance Model and characterise antenna elements Develop cost effective solutions for integrating active receiver components with the antenna To characterise the integrated antenna Develop photonic analogue data link To realize very low cost solutions for the radiator

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Targets T sys =35K (excluding sky noise) Bandwidth> 3:1 ‘full’ scan range etc. etc..... Tile cost target: to be defined but euros / m 2 Depending on: –Location receivers (remote/integrated) –Frequency band –Number beams

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Partners ASTRON UMAN Oxford/UCAM FG-IGN –CSIRO –NRC –OPAR –INAF –OMMIC

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Progress FG-IGN Evaluation of potential antenna elements Design of Vivaldi Design wideband dipole Design of wideband balun Far field Test range available

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Progress UK Development of specification 2-PAD Contribution to 2-PAD system design concept Initial array geometry studies –Band Interleaving approach promising Element study and initial simulations –Multi-choke exponential slot antenna –Anti-podal slot element

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Progress CSIRO Work on linear connected arrays Target: 5 by 5 array for Focal Plane Array purpose Progress NRC Focal Plane Array Vivaldi design

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Progress ASTRON Antenna design tooling The Efficient finite array solvers are needed for SKA: –The Characteristic Basis Function Method (CBFM) enhances the MoM to solve electrically large problems efficiently without comprising the accuracy Parallel Time Domain (FDTD) code on the LOFAR BlueGene/L computer –Together with prof. Mittra, PennState Univ.

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Active antenna design OMMIC: samples provided for differential LNA-antenna LNA ICs developed: focus on differential design –Hot/cold test with diff load: 60K (should be 35K) Differential antenna –Hot cold antenna tests still too high

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Localized vacuum LNA cooling 0.15 Watt cooling power for 20% T LNA reduction (ΔT 35 degrees 0.8 Watt cooling power: ΔT 50 degrees F Schreuder, J G Bij de Vaate, “Localized LNA cooling in vacuum”, Therminic, Nice, France, September 2006 G Jones, S Weinreb, “Thermoelectric cooling of LNAs to 200K”, URSI 2005

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Low cost radiator –Aluminum sheets –Polyester with cupper stamped or laser cut: 3€ / element Etching/Photolitho processes should be avoided Inkjet printing / MID (molded interconnect devices) Not feasible

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 No changes: Next meeting: 14 th September 2006, Manchester Schedule and milestones

Jan Geralt Bij de Vaate DS4-T4 SKADS Review 2006 Conclusion Already good progress on all objectives First dual polarization antenna array build SKA readiness tile on schedule: low cost high performance (EMBRACE compatible) tile