Suggested quasi-Cassegrain system for multi-beam observation of FAST

FAST, the largest single-dish radio telescope in the world, has a 500-meter diameter main reflector and a 300-meter diameter illuminated area. It has a main reflector that can vary its shape, which continuously changes the shape of the illuminated area in reflector into a paraboloid. In this article, we propose a quasiCassegrain system for FAST. The detailed design results are provided. Such a quasi-Cassegrain system only needs to add a 14.6-meter diameter secondary reflector, which is close to the size of the feed cabin. The distance from the secondary reflector to the focus is only 5.08 m, and it has excellent image quality. In this quasi-Cassegrain system, the shape of the illuminated area in the main reflector continuously changes into an optimized hyperboloid. Using this quasi-Cassegrain system from frequency 0.5 GHz to 8 GHz, the multi-beam system can include 7 to 217 feeds. If this system is used in combination with Phased Array Feed(PAF) technology, more multi-beam feeds or a higher working frequency can be used.     

姿态卡尔曼滤波对FAST馈源舱 BDS/SINS组合导航位姿精度的提高

500 m球面射电望远镜(The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope, FAST)馈源舱位置和姿态测量精度直接影响望远镜接收机的对准精度.为了提高馈源舱位姿精度,提出姿态卡尔曼滤波算法,采用北斗导航系统的多天线技术解算馈源舱姿态,将它与捷联惯导解算的馈源舱姿态对比,两者的差值作为姿态卡尔曼滤波的量测量.为了降低北斗导航系统解算姿态的复杂度,采用了罗德里格矩阵解算方法.以望远镜跟踪观测模式时,北斗导航系统和捷联惯导解算的实际导航结果作为测试数据,测试结果表明采用姿态卡尔曼滤波的组合导航结果精度优于传统卡尔曼滤波的组合导航结果,尤其在航向角和yf轴的位置精度上.     

FASTL波段多波束馈源设计的初步分析

把抛物面天线的偏焦理论应用于FASTL波段多波束馈源系统的设计,分析了馈源喇叭横向偏焦距离与相应波束偏离角之间的关系,结合多波束射电望远镜扫描方式的要求,给出了FASTL波段多波束馈源的工作带宽、多波束馈源中相邻喇叭的间距以及喇叭口径大小的限制,并对正六边形阵列中处于不同位置的喇叭对应的波束的主瓣情况作了详细计算和分析。由此说明了FASTL波段多波束馈源采用19波束的可行性。另一方面,根据得到的工作频率带宽和喇叭口径大小的情况,对OMT和喇叭类型的选择进行了探讨。本文给出了FASTL波段多波束系统的大概轮廓,为进一步精确设计指明了方向。     

The design of China Reconfigurable ANalog-digital backEnd for FAST

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST)was launched on 2016 September 25.From early 2017,we began to use the FAST wideband receiver,which was designed,constructed and installed on the FAST in Guizhou,China.The front end of the receiver is composed an uncooled Quad Ridge Flared Horn feed(QRFH)with the frequency range of 270 to 1620 MHz,and a cryostat operating at 10 K.We have cooperated with the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to develop the China Reconfigurable ANalog-digital backEnd(CRANE).The system covers the 3 GHz operating band of FAST.The hardware part of the backend includes an Analog Front-end Board,a wideband high precision Analog Digital Converter,and a FAST Digital Back-end.Analog circuit boards,field programmable gate arrays,and control computers form a set of hardware,software,and firmware platforms to achieve flexible bandwidth requirements through parameter changes.It is also suitable for the versatility of different astronomical observations,and can meet specific requirements.This paper briefly introduces the hardware and software of CRANE,as well as some observations of the system.     

Similarity model of feed support system for FAST

A new design of feed support system for Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is proposed in this paper. According to the similarity theory, a 1:15 scale model of feed support system has been built to make systemic research on the feasibility of the system. Then the control system and hardware structure of the feed support system are illustrated. A complete astronomical observation track is run by the scale model and the experiments results demonstrate that the new feed support system can satisfy the observation accuracy requirement of FAST.     

FAST30m模型L-波段馈源的设计、制作和性能测试

叙述了FAST（500m口径球面射电望远镜）30m模型L-波段馈源的设计、制作和性能测试过程。馈源的设计仿真使用了HFSS软件，并选用纸板或塑料板和铝箔胶带，通过手工操作完成馈源制作。馈源的性能通过测试表明满足FAST30m模型天文观测的需要。文中采用的HFSS软件仿真及手工制作馈源的方式不失为形式简单的馈源的模型制作的一种快速、经济和有效的方法。这种方法对相近的工作有一定的参考价值。     

对数周期偶极子天线的电特性分析

正在发展中的云南天文台０．５ＧＨｚ—１．５ＧＨｚ快速射电频谱分析仪的接收天线部分是计划在现有的十米口径抛物面天线的焦点上安装两付互相垂直的对数周期偶极子天线作为馈源。本文介绍了设计一个ＦＯＲＴＲＡＮ语言程序对对数周期偶极子天线电特性进行分析的过程，它可以在整个工作频段范围内计算出任意频率点上一副对数周期偶极子天线两个主平面内的方向图、波瓣宽度、增益和输入阻抗，并把结果以数据文件的形式记录下来，结合绘图软件，就可给出直观的结果，从而为对数周期偶极子天线的设计方案提供了可靠的理论判据。本文最后针对为云南天文台抛物面所设计的馈源作具体的分析。     

FAST望远镜40米模型天文观测软件的开发

针对FAST的天文观测要求,对其天文观测软件进行了设计与开发。首先介绍了FAST天文观测的原理,对天文观测软件进行了需求分析。而后提出了馈源天文运动轨迹规划算法,并进行了仿真。针对其轨迹要求给出了控制方法,对天文观测控制软件进行了设计与实现。最后通过现场实地实验,验证了本文所提的算法与软件的可行性。     

Modeling of A Feed Support System for Fast

As an engineering demonstrator for SKA, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is proposed in China. This paper is focused on one of the most critical components of FAST, the feed support system. The engineering concept, the configuration and results from model experiments are presented. The mechanical characteristics of the structure are analyzed. The performance of the feedback control system of the model is described. The feasibility of the design is tentatively confirmed by the experiments described at the end of the report.     

FAST望远镜两轴转向机构结构方案优化

FAST馈源支撑系统承载和驱动馈源运动,进行对天体的高精度跟踪观测.在实时的定位调整中,两轴转向机构起着辅助调整接收机姿态角的作用.为满足FAST两轴转向机构的重量及刚度要求,选择了一种空间刚架式的结构构型.提出了反映结构柔顺度及重量约束的目标函数,以各类杆件的截面面积以及整个结构的高度、半径等几何参数作为优化变量,采...     

Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope project

A Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is proposed to be built in the unique karst area of southwest China, and will act, in a sense, as a prototype for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). It will be over twice as large as the Arecibo telescope coupled with much wider sky coverage. Some results from site surveys for such a SKA concept are briefly reported. Technically, FAST is not simply a copy of the existing Arecibo telescope but has rather a number of innovations. Firstly, the proposed main spherical reflector, by conforming to a paraboloid of revolution in real time through actuated active control, enables the realization of both wide bandwidth and full polarization capability while using standard feed design. Secondly, a feed support system which integrates optical, mechanical and electronic technologies will effectively reduce the cost of the support structure and control system. Pre-research on FAST has become a key project in the CAS. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

FAST单元面板面型检测算法研究

500 m口径球面射电望远镜(Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope,FAST)是一个超大口径的可动望远镜,有三项技术创新,一是选址,二是轻型馈源索支撑,三是主动反射面。在主动反射面上,单元面板的面型和面板的出厂加工精度对电磁波在反射面的汇聚有很大影响。FAST主反射面由4 600块三角形反射面板拼接而成,每块面板为边长11 m三角形,这对FAST反射面面板的测量技术提出了更高的要求。摄影测量直接在影像上进行量测,无需接触物体本身;所摄影像信息丰富,可以从中获得所研究物体的大量几何信息和物理信息;适用于大范围、多目标测量,效率高。目前世界上最大的射电望远镜,如GBT和ARECIBO都是采用摄影测量技术进行反射面面形检测。在对现有的面型检测技术调研并试验后,提出基于数字近景摄影测量的方法,对FAST反射面11 m单元面板的面型进行检测,数分钟完成反射面板面型的一次检测,测量精度达到2.5 mm,经过调整后的单元面板的面型精度达到了3.0 mm,结果表明摄影测量应用于FAST反射面单元面板面型检测是可行的。     

Preface:Planning the scientific applications of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST) is by far the largest telescope of any kind ever built. FAST produced its first light in September 2016 and it is now under commissioning, with normal operation to commence in late 2019. During testing and early science operation, FAST has started making astronomical discoveries, particularly pulsars of various kinds, including millisecond pulsars, binaries, gamma-ray pulsars, etc. The papers in this mini-volume propose ambitious observational projects to advance our knowledge of astronomy, astrophysics and fundamental physics in many ways.Although it may take FAST many years to achieve all the goals explained in these papers, taken together they define a powerful strategic vision for the next decade.     

一种扩大FAST视场的方法

所有的大口径射电望远镜都存在这样一个问题：在其分辨率和灵敏度提高的同时，视场变小．而且口径越大，视场越小．这成为大口径望远镜不可回避的矛盾．要解决这个矛盾，可以在望远镜的焦平面上放置Ⅳ个分立馈源．让它们同时工作，这样可以看作把视场扩大了Ⅳ倍．望远镜的工作效率提高Ⅳ倍．但是这样做的缺点是——视场不连续．且馈源数目Ⅳ受到望远镜焦比(F／D)的限制．采用致密焦面阵(dense focal plane array)就可以很好地解决这个问题．致密焦面阵的单元不是喇叭口天线，而是无方向性的Vivaldi天线(Vivaldi antenna)．要把Vivaldi阵列应用到望远镜上，需要对单个Vivaldi天线和Vivaldi阵列的电性能有清楚的认识，并能根据需要来设计照明方向图．还要知道大望远镜的焦面上电磁场的分布情况，借此判断能否应用Vivaldi阵列，以及给出Vivaldi单元的分路赋权网络．主要给出了FAST的焦面场的分布情况．并说明应用Vivaldi阵列的可能性．     

对数周期偶极子天线的设计、制造和测试

文中所作的主要工作是为云南天文台十米抛物面设计、制造一付好的对数周期偶极子天线（ＬＰＤＡ）作馈源。工作有：（１）设计一对交叉的ＬＰ－ＤＡ；（２）分析ＬＰＤＡ特性；（３）估算抛物面的电特性；（４）讨论线极化向园极化转换的问题；（５）天线测量。ＬＰＤＡ的测量结果比较满意。该天线的方向图、平均输入阻抗、三分贝和十分贝波瓣宽度都在从０．５－１．５ＧＨｚ的频率范围内比较一致和稳定，变化很小。天线理论上的许多成就都是与数子计算机有关的。在文中，我们充分利用了计算机的功能来设计天线，分析天线特性，并从测量所得的所有数据文件中计算天线的参数。所编ＦＯＲＴＲＡＮ程序使这一切工作变得容易。最后，我们还讨论了用功率合成器实现线极化向园极化转换的各种情况     

大射电望远镜FAST风环境数值模拟研究

500 m口径球面射电望远镜(Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope,FAST),整体结构处于复杂的喀斯特地貌上,反射面承受风载荷作用,需要进行抗风设计。建立了FAST反射面及其周边山地地形的计算流体动力学(Computational Fluid Dynamics,CFD)计算模型,计算域范围为40 km×10 km×5.5 km。确定了入口风速剖面的基准高度为海拔810 m。计算了不同风向下反射面风压系数分布特征,得出了不利风向。对挡风墙的研究结果表明,挡风墙高度选择的效果优于位置选择。该研究结果可为FAST工程提供抗风设计的初步参考。     

The role of FAST in pulsar timing arrays

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST) will become one of the world-leading telescopes for pulsar timing array(PTA) research. The primary goals for PTAs are to detect(and subsequently study) ultra-low-frequency gravitational waves, to develop a pulsar-based time standard and to improve solar system planetary ephemerides. FAST will have the sensitivity to observe known pulsars with significantly improved signal-to-noise ratios and will discover a large number of currently unknown pulsars. We describe how FAST will contribute to PTA research and show that jitter-and timing-noise will be the limiting noise processes for FAST data sets. Jitter noise will limit the timing precision achievable over data spans of a few years while timing noise will limit the precision achievable over many years.     

氢原子钟蓝宝石谐振腔的设计和实验表现

为了设计主动型氢原子钟蓝宝石谐振腔的结构尺寸,对根据TE011模式下蓝宝石谐振腔的麦克斯韦尔方程组推出的超越方程进行了求解,利用电磁场有限元分析软件对蓝宝石腔进行了仿真分析。通过计算S参数,确认了所设计的氢原子钟蓝宝石谐振腔实现氢脉泽自激振荡的现实性。利用SOHM-4型氢钟机架作为实验床,在离子泵电流1.1 mA时,得到了强度为-102.93 dbm的脉泽振荡信号。此信号强度与标准的主动型氢原子钟在相同的离子泵电流下的信号强度相仿。     

Tracking of kilometric-wave type III solar bursts in elevation and elongation and apparent source sizes

With our experiment on the satellite IMP-6 (Explorer 43) we are able to track the position of type III solar bursts in elevation as well as elongation. We do this by measuring the correlations between signals on an electric dipole antenna which is approximately normal to the plane of the ecliptic, and either of two antennas rotating in the ecliptic plane. The result is that the sources are generally close to the ecliptic plane, close enough that their elevation above the ecliptic cannot account for the large apparent width which we and others observe, and that this width must therefore be real.     

On the cable car feed support configuration for FAST

This paper introduces the cable car feed support configuration for China's FAST project. Recent advances on the mechanics of the proposed supporting structure and the control of the Stewart platform for secondary feed stabilization are presented. Difficulties associated with the configuration are also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.