The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has engaged the broad scientific and technical communities in the design of a next-generation Very Large Array [1] (ngVLA), a large-scale research infrastructure project under development for the National Science Foundation Astronomical Sciences Division (NSF-AST) through a cooperative agreement with Associated Universities, Inc. The ngVLA is envisaged as an interferometric array with ten times greater sensitivity and spatial resolution than the current VLA and ALMA, operating in the frequency range of 1.2 - 116 GHz. Replacing both the VLA and VLBA, the ngVLA will be an open-skies, transformative, multi-disciplinary scientific instrument opening a new window on the Universe through ultra-sensitive imaging of thermal line and continuum emission down to milliarcsecond-scale resolution, as well as unprecedented broad-band continuum polarimetric imaging of non-thermal processes. The ngVLA will be optimized for observations in the spectral region between the superb performance of ALMA at sub-mm wavelengths, and the future Phase I Square Kilometer Array (SKA-1) at decimeter and longer wavelengths, resulting in a transformational instrument for the entire scientific community. In 2019, the ngVLA project completed the public release of the ngVLA Reference Design [2][3] as the technical and cost basis of the ngVLA Astro2020 Decadal Survey proposal [4]. With a strong endorsement of the facility concept by the Decadal Survey [5] and continued support from the National Science Foundation, the project is preparing for a System Conceptual Design Review in the spring of 2022. This paper provides a technical update, noting technical advancements and changes to the design baseline.
The ngVLA is envisaged as an interferometric array with ten times greater sensitivity and spatial resolution than the current VLA and ALMA, operating in the frequency range of 1.2 – 116 GHz.
In this talk we provide a project status update and overview of the Reference Design. The Reference Design is a low-technical-risk, costed concept that supports the key science goals for the facility, and forms the technical and cost basis of the ngVLA Astro2020 Decadal Survey proposal.
The next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) is an astronomical observatory planned to operate at centimeter wavelengths (25 to 0.26 centimeters, corresponding to a frequency range extending from 1.2 GHz to 116 GHz). The observatory will be a synthesis radio telescope constituted of approximately 214 reflector antennas each of 18 meters diameter, operating in a phased or interferometric mode.
We provide an overview of the current system design of the ngVLA. The concepts for major system elements such as the antenna, receiving electronics, and central signal processing are presented. We also describe the major development activities that are presently underway to advance the design.
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