Marco Schiaffino

National Institute for Astrophysics

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Federico Perini

National Institute for Astrophysics

A. Mattana

National Institute for Astrophysics

Jader Monari

National Institute for Astrophysics

G. Pupillo

Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna

G. Naldi

Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna

Alessio Magro

University of Malta

G. Bianchi

Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna

Simone Rusticelli

National Institute for Astrophysics

Mauro Roma

Anhembi Morumbi University

Pietro Bolli

Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory

Cooperative Institutions

National Institute for Astrophysics

Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna

Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari

Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory

Agenzia Spaziale Italiana

International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania

Curtin University

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Trieste Astronomical Observatory

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Preliminary tests to design an ad hoc signal acquisition chain for the Sardinia Aperture Array Demonstrator

A. Ladu Luca Schirru A. Melis Federico Perini Francesco Gaudiomonte

The Sardinia Aperture Array Demonstrator (SAD) is an Italian facility, which is composed of 128 prototypical Vivaldi antennas, specifically designed to operate across the 50–500 MHz frequency range. As well known, one of the major burden at low frequency are the radio frequency interferences, thus after several accurate measurement campaigns we realized that a specific signal conditioning is needed in order to feed the digital beamformer with the proper signal level. In this paper, we report the results of the preliminary tests that we carried out in order to design an ad hoc receiving chain for the SAD array.

SIGNAL (programming language)

Aperture (computer memory)

Signal conditioning

10.23919/ursigass51995.2021.9560615

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Design and prototyping of the Italian Tile Processing Module (ITPM) 1.6 for the low-frequency aperture array deployment

F. Schillirò M. Alderighi Carolina Belli Simone Chiarucci Riccardo Chiello

A novel version of digital hardware Italian Tile Processing Module (ITPM) 1.6 has been released for the Low-Frequency Aperture Array (LFAA) component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). This back-end includes two plugged-in main blocks, as an analog device , the Pre-ADU board, and an Analog to Digital Unit (ADU), a 6U board containing sixteen dual-inputs Analog to Digital Converters and two Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices, capable of digitizing and processing 32 RF input signals (50-650 MHz). We present the main features of the upgrade of the board compared to previous versions: there are new and high performance components improving processing capability, mechanical changes matching the design of the housing sub-rack and finally a general reduction of the overall power consumption. The ITPM ADU 1.6 version, now in engineering phase together with its sub-rack system, is currently the last prototype before the design of the industrial line for mass production, necessary for the LFAA deployment. Results of system performances will be presented.

Upgrade

Aperture (computer memory)

Gate array

10.1117/12.2562085

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The Digital Signal Processing Platform for the Low Frequency Aperture Array: Preliminary Results on the Data Acquisition Unit

Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation (2017)

G. Naldi A. Mattana S. Pastore M. Alderighi Kristian Zarb Adami

A signal processing hardware platform has been developed for the Low Frequency Aperture Array component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The processing board, called an Analog Digital Unit (ADU), is able to acquire and digitize broadband (up to 500[Formula: see text]MHz bandwidth) radio-frequency streams from 16 dual polarized antennas, channel the data streams and then combine them flexibly as part of a larger beamforming system. It is envisaged that there will be more than 8000 of these signal processing platforms in the first phase of the SKA, so particular attention has been devoted to ensure the design is low-cost and low-power. This paper describes the main features of the data acquisition unit of such a platform and presents preliminary results characterizing its performance.

Array Processing

10.1142/s2251171716410142

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Design of PHAROS2 Phased Array Feed

2018 2nd URSI Atlantic Radio Science Meeting (AT-RASC) (2018)

A. Navarrini Jader Monari A. Scalambra A. Melis R. Concu

We describe the design and architecture of PHAROS2, a cryogenically cooled 4-8 GHz Phased Array Feed (PAF) demonstrator with digital beamformer for radio astronomy application. The instrument will be capable of synthesizing four independent single-polarization beams by combining 24 active elements of an array of Vivaldi antennas. PHAROS2, the upgrade of PHAROS (PHased Arrays for Reflector Observing Systems), features: a) commercial cryogenic LNAs with state-of-the-art performance, b) a "Warm Section" for signal filtering, conditioning and single downconversion to select a ≈ 275 MHz: Intermediate Frequency (IF) bandwidth within the 4-8 GHz Radio Frequency (RF) band, c) an IF signal transportation by analog WDM (Wavelength Division Mutiplexing) fiber-optic link, and d) a FPGA-based Italian Tile Processing Module (iTPM) digital backend. PHAROS2 will be mounted at the primary focus of the 76-m diameter Lovell radio telescope (Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK) for technical and scientific validation.

Phased-array optics

10.23919/ursi-at-rasc.2018.8471305

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Citations (12)

Energy barrier height variations of Pd—Si Schottky diodes induced by deuterium

IEEE Electron Device Letters (1983)

A. Diligenti Moreno Stagi V. Ciuti Marco Schiaffino

The depletion layer capacitance of palladium-silicon contacts at 0 V bias has been measured as a function of time during the exposure to the deuterium. The capacitance transient, from which the barrier height behavior can be readily deduced, has been compared with the transient obtained exposing the same diodes to the hydrogen. It has been found that the barrier height variation induced by the deuterium occurs in a time interval which is at least an order of magnitude shorter than the hydrogen induced one.

Depletion region

Transient (computer programming)

10.1109/edl.1983.25653

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Aperture array for low frequency: The vivaldi solution

2022 International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications (ICEAA) (2013)

Jader Monari Federico Perini Marco Schiaffino G. Bianchi A. Mattana

Among the various technologies, sparse Aperture Array for Low frequency (AA-Low) are the system operating between 50-450MHz, that will be installed for the first receiving portion of SKA. This paper presents the Italian experiences and results concerning that field as part of the AADCC (Aperture Array Design Construction Consortium) with particular reference to the technology of the sensor type "Vivaldi".

Aperture (computer memory)

10.1109/iceaa.2013.6632191

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The northern cross fast radio burst project – II. Monitoring of repeating FRB 20180916B, 20181030A, 20200120E, and 20201124A

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2022)

M. Trudu M. Pilia G. Bernardi A. Addis G. Bianchi

ABSTRACT In this work, we report the results of a 19-month fast radio burst observational campaign carried out with the north–south arm of the Medicina Northern Cross radio telescope at 408 MHz in which we monitored four repeating sources: FRB20180916B, FRB20181030A, FRB20200120E, and FRB20201124A. We present the current state of the instrument and the detection and characterization of three bursts from FRB20180916B. Given our observing time, our detections are consistent with the event number we expect from the known burst rate (2.7 ± 1.9 above our 10σ, 38 Jy ms detection threshold) in the 5.2 d active window of the source, further confirming the source periodicity. We detect no bursts from the other sources. We turn this result into a 95 per cent confidence level lower limit on the slope of the differential fluence distribution α to be α > 2.1 and α > 2.2 for FRB20181030A and FRB20200120E, respectively. Given the known rate for FRB20201124A, we expect 1.0 ± 1.1 bursts from our campaign, consistent with our non-detection.

Fast radio burst

Detection threshold

10.1093/mnras/stac1031

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Test-Driven Design of an Active Dual-Polarized Log-Periodic Antenna for the Square Kilometre Array

IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation (2020)

Pietro Bolli Lorenzo Mezzadrelli Jader Monari Federico Perini Alberto Tibaldi

An active dual-polarized Log-Periodic antenna has been designed to meet the requirements of the low-frequency (50 - 350 MHz) radio telescope of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The integration of antenna and low noise amplifier has been conceived in order to achieve a high degree of testability. This aspect has been found to be crucial to obtain a smooth frequency response compatible with the SKA science cases. The design has also been driven by other factors such as the large-volume production (more than 130 000 antennas will be built) and the environmental conditions of the harsh Australian desert. A specific verification approach based on both wideband radiometric spectral and spatial measurements in relevant laboratory and in-situ conditions has been developed. Electromagnetic analyses and experimental results exhibit a very good agreement. In December 2019, this antenna was part of the reference solution for the System Critical Design Review of the SKA.

10.1109/ojap.2020.2999109

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Citations (49)

The Aperture Array Verification System 1: System overview and early commissioning results.

arXiv (Cornell University) (2021)

P. Benthem R. B. Wayth Eloy de Lera Acedo Kristian Zarb Adami M. Alderighi

The design and development process for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, the Low Frequency Aperture Array component, was progressed during the SKA pre-construction phase by an international consortium, with the goal of meeting requirements for a critical design review. As part of the development process a full-sized prototype SKA Low station was deployed, the Aperture Array Verification System 1 (AAVS1). We provide a system overview and describe the commissioning results of AAVS1, which is a low frequency radio telescope with 256 dual-polarisation log-periodic dipole antennas working as a phased array. A detailed system description is provided, including an in-depth overview of relevant sub-systems, ranging from hardware, firmware, software, calibration,and control sub-systems. Early commissioning results cover initial bootstrapping, array calibration, stability testing, beam-forming,and on-sky sensitivity validation. Lessons learned are presented, along with future developments.

Firmware

Aperture (computer memory)

Installation

Source

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From MAD to SAD: The Italian experience for the low‐frequency aperture array of SKA1‐LOW

Radio Science (2016)

Pietro Bolli G. Pupillo Giuseppe Virone Muhammad Zunnoorain Farooqui Andrea Maria Lingua

Abstract This paper describes two small aperture array demonstrators called Medicina and Sardinia Array Demonstrators (MAD and SAD, respectively). The objectives of these instruments are to acquire experience and test new technologies for a possible application to the low‐frequency aperture array of the low‐frequency telescope of the Square Kilometer Array phase 1 (SKA1‐LOW). The MAD experience was concluded in 2014, and it turned out to be an important test bench for implementing calibration techniques based on an artificial source mounted in an aerial vehicle. SAD is based on 128 dual‐polarized Vivaldi antennas and is 1 order of magnitude larger than MAD. The architecture and the station size of SAD, which is along the construction phase, are more similar to those under evaluation for SKA1‐LOW, and therefore, SAD is expected to provide useful hints for SKA1‐LOW.

Aperture (computer memory)

Test bench

10.1002/2015rs005922

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Citations (27)