Characterization of instrumental phase stability

D. Y. Kubo; T. R. Hunter; R. D. Christensen; P. I. Yamaguchi

doi:10.1117/12.672927

27 June 2006 Characterization of instrumental phase stability

D. Y. Kubo, T. R. Hunter, R. D. Christensen, P. I. Yamaguchi

Proceedings Volume 6275, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy III; 62751Y (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672927
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

Atmospheric water vapor causes significant undesired phase fluctuations for the SMA interferometer, particularly in its highest frequency observing band of 690 GHz. One proposed solution to this atmospheric effect is to observe simultaneously at two separate frequency bands of 230 and 690 GHz. Although the phase fluctuations have a smaller magnitude at the lower frequency, they can be measured more accurately and on shorter timescales due to the greater sensitivity of the array to celestial point source calibrators at this frequency. In theory, we can measure the atmospheric phase fluctuations in the 230 GHz band, scale them appropriately with frequency, and apply them to the data in 690 band during the post-observation calibration process. The ultimate limit to this atmospheric phase calibration scheme will be set by the instrumental phase stability of the IF and LO systems. We describe the methodology and initial results of the phase stability characterization of the IF and LO systems.

Citation Download Citation

D. Y. Kubo, T. R. Hunter, R. D. Christensen, and P. I. Yamaguchi "Characterization of instrumental phase stability", Proc. SPIE 6275, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy III, 62751Y (27 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672927

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