MWL - Millimeter-wave laboratory

Development of a Prototype for Band 1 (31-45GHz)

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA, http://www.almaobservatory.org/) is the largest radio astronomical array ever constructed. Every one of its antennas will cover the spectroscopic window allowed by the atmospheric transmission at the construction site with ten different bands. Despite being declared as a high scientific priority by the ALMA Scientific Advisory Committee, band 1 was not selected for construction during the initial phase of the project. However, Universidad de Chile is running a program for the construction of a prototype receiver for band 1 of ALMA. The first prototype has already been build and tested at cryogenic temperatures.

More Info: Construction of a Heterodyne Receiver for Band 1 of ALMA.pdf

The Millimeter-wave laboratory (MWL) designs, builds and tests receivers for use in radioastronomy with a focus on academic activities and technological research. We are a heterogeneous group of astronomers, engineers, technicians and students, with a joint experience that covers from decametric to sub-millimeter techniques. The Laboratory begins with the transfer of the equipment from the Maipú Radio Observatory on the year 2000 and the relocation/upgrade of the MINI (1.2m mm-wave radio telescope) from Cerro Tololo to Cerro Calan. Today, we are involved in several projects related to mm-wave receivers in collaboration with a number of groups abroad. Together with the Department of Electrical Engineering (DIE), which runs a photonics laboratory, we have formed the Astronomical Instrumentation Group.

DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONOMY

Camino El Observatorio # 1515, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile Casilla 36-D (56-2) 977 1119. mwl@das.uchile.cl http://www.das.uchile.cl

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Av. Tupper 2007, Santiago Centro, Santiago, Chile (56-2) 2978 4888 https://www.die.cl/

Contact

Telephone

+562 2977 1119

Email

mwl@das.uchile.cl

Project