The Australia Telescope Compact Array Broad-band Backend: Description and first results

Wilson, Warwick E., Ferris, R.H., Axtens, P., Brown, A., Davis, E., Hampson, G., Leach, M., Roberts, P., Saunders, S., Koribalski, B.S., and others. (2011) The Australia Telescope Compact Array Broad-band Backend: Description and first results. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 416 (2). pp. 832-856. ISSN 0035-8711. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19054.x) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:52221)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.190...

Abstract

Here, we describe the Compact Array Broad-band Backend (CABB) and present first results obtained with the upgraded Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The 16-fold increase in observing bandwidth, from 2 × 128 to 2 × 2048 MHz, high-bit sampling and the addition of 16 zoom windows (each divided into further 2048 channels) provide major improvements for all ATCA observations. The benefits of the new system are: (1) hugely increased radio continuum and polarization sensitivity as well as image fidelity; (2) substantially improved capability to search for and map emission and absorption lines over large velocity ranges; (3) simultaneous multi-line and continuum observations; (4) increased sensitivity, survey speed and dynamic range due to high-bit sampling and (5) high-velocity resolution, while maintaining full polarization output. The new CABB system encourages all observers to make use of both spectral line and continuum data to achieve their full potential.

Given the dramatic increase of the ATCA capabilities in all bands (ranging from 1.1 to 105 GHz) CABB enables scientific projects that were not feasible before the upgrade, such as simultaneous observations of multiple spectral lines, on-the-fly mapping, fast follow-up of radio transients (e.g. the radio afterglow of new supernovae) and maser observation at high-velocity resolution and full polarization. The first science results presented here include wide-band spectra, high dynamic-range images and polarization measurements, highlighting the increased capability and discovery potential of the ATCA.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19054.x
Uncontrolled keywords:	Galaxies: general, Instrumentation: interferometers, ISM: general, Methods: observational, Radio continuum: general, Radio lines: general
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy > QB460 Astrophysics
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User:	James Urquhart
Date Deposited:	30 Nov 2015 16:00 UTC
Last Modified:	16 Nov 2021 10:21 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/52221 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Urquhart, J.S..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1605-8050
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Thompson, Mark A..

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