Design and simulations of a Phased Array Feed for the BIRALET radar.
- Paper number
IAC-19,A6,IP,7,x53038
- Author
Dr. Tonino Pisanu, Italy, National Institute for Astrophysics
- Coauthor
Dr. Luca Schirru, Italy, National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF)
- Coauthor
Dr. Giacomo Muntoni, Italy, Università di Cagliari
- Coauthor
Dr. Alessandro Navarrini, Italy, INAF - Istituto Nazionale di AstroFisica
- Coauthor
Dr. Raimondo Concu, Italy, INAF - Istituto Nazionale di AstroFisica
- Coauthor
Dr. Enrico Urru, Italy, INAF - Istituto Nazionale di AstroFisica
- Coauthor
Dr. Andrea Melis, Italy, INAF - Istituto Nazionale di AstroFisica
- Coauthor
Dr. Pierluigi Ortu, Italy, National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF)
- Year
2019
- Abstract
The number of space debris in orbit around the Earth is continuously growing and represents a potential problem for the development of the Space Economy. For this reason, there are many different programs aiming at monitoring and mitigating the proliferation of space debris. For this purpose, a Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Support Framework was established by the European Commission in 2014 and a SST Consortium of five EU Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) was formed in 2015. INAF (Italian National Institute for Astrophysics) participates to the EUSST Consortium by offering different sensors and capabilities, including optical and radio telescopes. One of the tracking radars we are proposing in the framework of the EUSST is the so-called BIRALET (BI-static RAdar for LEo Tracking), a bi-static radar composed by a transmitting antenna and by the SRT (Sardinia Radio Telescope) as a receiver. The transmitting antenna is a parabolic dish with a diameter of 7 m managed by the Italian Air Force, while the SRT is a fully steerable wheel-and-track 64 m dish with a Gregorian optical configuration, managed by INAF. Both instruments are located on the Sardinia Island, Italy, and are separated by a distance of approximately 20 km. BIRALET operates in P-band at 410 MHz with a transmitter providing a CW (Continuous Wave) power capability of 10 kW and a cryogenically cooled P-band single beam receiver installed on the SRT. In this configuration, BIRALET can perform space debris observations only in beam parking mode, with no tracking capabilities. This means that we detect only the objects with a given RCS (Radar Cross Section) crossing the SRT telescope FoV (Field of View) and illuminated by the transmitter. We are planning to upgrade the BIRALET radar for operation at higher frequencies in C-band (around 6 GHz) by designing a new receiver for the SRT, based on a Phased Array Feed (PAF). A PAF allows creating multiple simultaneous beams on the sky and so achieving tracking capabilities. Starting from the experience we acquired with PHAROS2, a cryogenically cooled PAF for C-band radio astronomy applications, we are designing a PAF prototype for use on SRT for space debris detection and tracking. We will report on the preliminary design of the PAF receiver.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,A6,IP,7,x53038.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.