MMA Memo #193

Report of the LSA/MMA Antenna Study Committee

T. Andersen [1], J. Lugten [2], P. Napier [2], D. Plathner [3], D. Woody [4], M. Bremer [3], J. Cheng [2], J. Delannoy [3], R. Hills [5]

December 2, 1997

Keywords: Antennas

Antennas in the diameter range 8 m to 15 m with a surface accuracy specification of 25 µm and a pointing requirement of 1/30 th beamwidth at a frequency of 300 GHz have been studied to determine feasibility and cost. Antennas with this desired performance are feasible over the full diameter range, although the margin with which the requirements can be met reduces as the diameter increases. For general project definition purposes an antenna production cost of $24K/sq.m of antenna collecting area can be assumed, to which an additional one-time cost of approximately $11M must be added. This production cost implies a cost scaling in which antenna cost increases as the square of the diameter, which is a slower rate of cost increase than is usually assumed. The relatively low cost of the largest diameter antennas is achieved with a number of design innovations, in particular the use of a commercial active laser metrology system which corrects for pointing errors caused by the antenna foundation and mount and allows the cost of these elements to be reduced. Such a metrology system is not yet in use on any existing telescope and needs further development.

[1] ESO
[2] NRAO
[3] IRAM
[4] OVRO
[5] Cambridge

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Last modified: 09 December, 1999