MWL - Millimeter-wave laboratory

MINI Radio Telescope

The 1.2 m wave telescope (Mini) is now equipped with an innovative digital sideband-separating (2SB) receiver. Which achieves a sideband-separating ratio between 30 and 35 dB in a 500 MHz bandwidth, providing a more sensitive instrument (2015). During 2016 the telescope's control system hardware and software were modified and optimized to integrate the new digital receiver. The telescope is used for teaching at undergraduate level and to train young observational astronomers. Engineering work on the control electronics and plans for a future update of the cryogenic system are ongoing.

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