scholarly journals In situ measurement of MWA primary beam variation using ORBCOMM

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. B. Line ◽  
B. McKinley ◽  
J. Rasti ◽  
M. Bhardwaj ◽  
R. B. Wayth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flux Density ◽  
In Situ Measurement ◽  
Primary Beam ◽  
Antenna Element ◽  
Beam Model ◽  
Beam Shape ◽  
Murchison Widefield Array ◽  
Good Agreement

AbstractWe provide the first in situ measurements of antenna element beam shapes of the Murchison Widefield Array. Most current processing pipelines use an assumed beam shape, which can cause absolute and relative flux density errors and polarisation ‘leakage’. Understanding the primary beam is then of paramount importance, especially for sensitive experiments such as a measurement of the 21-cm line from the epoch of reionisation, where the calibration requirements are so extreme that tile to tile beam variations may affect our ability to make a detection. Measuring the primary beam shape from visibilities is challenging, as multiple instrumental, atmospheric, and astrophysical factors contribute to uncertainties in the data. Building on the methods of Neben et al. [Radio Sci., 50, 614], we tap directly into the receiving elements of the telescope before any digitisation or correlation of the signal. Using ORBCOMM satellite passes we are able to produce all-sky maps for four separate tiles in the XX polarisation. We find good agreement with the beam model of Sokolowski et al. [2017, PASA, 34, e062], and clearly observe the effects of a missing dipole from a tile in one of our beam maps. We end by motivating and outlining additional on-site experiments.

A calibration and imaging strategy at 300 MHz with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA)

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaiden H. Cook ◽  
Nicholas Seymour ◽  
Marcin Sokolowski
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
High Dynamic Range ◽  
Primary Beam ◽  
Main Lobe ◽  
Beam Model ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Imaging Strategy ◽  
Murchison Widefield Array ◽  
Beam Patterns

Abstract At relatively high frequencies, highly sensitive grating sidelobes occur in the primary beam patterns of low frequency aperture arrays (LFAA) such as the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). This occurs when the observing wavelength becomes comparable to the dipole separation for LFAA tiles, which for the MWA occurs at ${\sim}300$ MHz. The presence of these grating sidelobes has made calibration and image processing for 300 MHz MWA observations difficult. This work presents a new calibration and imaging strategy which employs existing techniques to process two example 300 MHz MWA observations. Observations are initially calibrated using a new 300 MHz sky-model which has been interpolated from low frequency and high frequency all-sky surveys. Using this 300 MHz model in conjunction with the accurate MWA tile primary beam model, we perform sky-model calibration for the two example observations. After initial calibration a self-calibration loop is performed by all-sky imaging each observation. We mask the main lobe of the all-sky image, and perform a sky-subtraction by estimating the masked image visibilities. We then image the main lobe of the sky-subtracted visibilities, which results in high dynamic range images of the two example observations. These images have been convolved with a Gaussian to a resolution of $2.4$ arcminutes, with a maximum sensitivity of ${{\sim}}31\,\textrm{mJy/beam}$ . The calibration and imaging strategy demonstrated in this work opens the door to performing science at 300 MHz with the MWA, which was previously an inaccessible domain. With this paper we release the code described below and the cross-matched catalogue along with the code to produce a sky-model in the range 70–1 400 MHz.

scholarly journals Calibration and Stokes Imaging with Full Embedded Element Primary Beam Model for the Murchison Widefield Array

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sokolowski ◽  
T. Colegate ◽  
A. T. Sutinjo ◽  
D. Ung ◽  
R. Wayth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Primary Beam ◽  
Beam Model ◽  
Efficient Calculation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Soil Effects ◽  
Murchison Widefield Array ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Bow Tie

AbstractThe Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), located in Western Australia, is one of the low-frequency precursors of the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. In addition to pursuing its own ambitious science programme, it is also a testbed for wide range of future SKA activities ranging from hardware, software to data analysis. The key science programmes for the MWA and SKA require very high dynamic ranges, which challenges calibration and imaging systems. Correct calibration of the instrument and accurate measurements of source flux densities and polarisations require precise characterisation of the telescope’s primary beam. Recent results from the MWA GaLactic Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (GLEAM) survey show that the previously implemented Average Embedded Element (AEE) model still leaves residual polarisations errors of up to 10–20% in Stokes Q. We present a new simulation-based Full Embedded Element (FEE) model which is the most rigorous realisation yet of the MWA’s primary beam model. It enables efficient calculation of the MWA beam response in arbitrary directions without necessity of spatial interpolation. In the new model, every dipole in the MWA tile (4 × 4 bow-tie dipoles) is simulated separately, taking into account all mutual coupling, ground screen, and soil effects, and therefore accounts for the different properties of the individual dipoles within a tile. We have applied the FEE beam model to GLEAM observations at 200–231 MHz and used false Stokes parameter leakage as a metric to compare the models. We have determined that the FEE model reduced the magnitude and declination-dependent behaviour of false polarisation in Stokes Q and V while retaining low levels of false polarisation in Stokes U.

scholarly journals Dual polarization measurements of MWA beampatterns at 137 MHz

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (2) ◽  
pp. 1990-2004
Author(s):  
A Chokshi ◽  
J L B Line ◽  
N Barry ◽  
D Ung ◽  
D Kenney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Beam Model ◽  
Instrumental Effects ◽  
Phased Array Antenna ◽  
Environmental Perturbations ◽  
Murchison Widefield Array ◽  
The Many

ABSTRACT The wide adoption of low-frequency radio interferometers as a tool for deeper and higher resolution astronomical observations has revolutionized radio astronomy. Despite their construction from static, relatively simple dipoles, the sheer number of distinct elements introduces new, complicated instrumental effects. Their necessary remote locations exacerbate failure rates, while electronic interactions between the many adjacent receiving elements can lead to non-trivial instrumental effects. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) employs phased array antenna elements (tiles), which improve collecting area at the expense of complex beam shapes. Advanced electromagnetic simulations have produced the fully embedded element (FEE) simulated beam model which has been highly successful in describing the ideal beam response of MWA antennas. This work focuses on the relatively unexplored aspect of various in-situ, environmental perturbations to beam models and represents the first large-scale, in-situ, all-sky measurement of MWA beam shapes at multiple polarizations and pointings. Our satellite based beam measurement approach enables all-sky beam response measurements with a dynamic range of ∼50 dB, at 137 MHz.

Atomic Layer Deposition of LiF and Lithium Ion Conducting (AlF3)(LiF)x Alloys Using Trimethylaluminum, Lithium Hexamethyldisilazide and Hydrogen Fluoride

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Younghee Lee ◽  
Daniela M. Piper ◽  
Andrew S. Cavanagh ◽  
Matthias J. Young ◽  
Se-Hee Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Atomic Layer ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
Alloy Film ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Layer Deposition ◽  
Ion Conducting ◽  
Good Agreement

<div>Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of LiF and lithium ion conducting (AlF<sub>3</sub>)(LiF)<sub>x</sub> alloys was developed using trimethylaluminum, lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) and hydrogen fluoride derived from HF-pyridine solution. ALD of LiF was studied using in situ quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and in situ quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) at reaction temperatures between 125°C and 250°C. A mass gain per cycle of 12 ng/(cm<sup>2</sup> cycle) was obtained from QCM measurements at 150°C and decreased at higher temperatures. QMS detected FSi(CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub> as a reaction byproduct instead of HMDS at 150°C. LiF ALD showed self-limiting behavior. Ex situ measurements using X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) showed a growth rate of 0.5-0.6 Å/cycle, in good agreement with the in situ QCM measurements.</div><div>ALD of lithium ion conducting (AlF3)(LiF)x alloys was also demonstrated using in situ QCM and in situ QMS at reaction temperatures at 150°C A mass gain per sequence of 22 ng/(cm<sup>2</sup> cycle) was obtained from QCM measurements at 150°C. Ex situ measurements using XRR and SE showed a linear growth rate of 0.9 Å/sequence, in good agreement with the in situ QCM measurements. Stoichiometry between AlF<sub>3</sub> and LiF by QCM experiment was calculated to 1:2.8. XPS showed LiF film consist of lithium and fluorine. XPS also showed (AlF<sub>3</sub>)(LiF)x alloy consists of aluminum, lithium and fluorine. Carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen impurities were both below the detection limit of XPS. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) observed that LiF and (AlF<sub>3</sub>)(LiF)<sub>x</sub> alloy film have crystalline structures. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ionic chromatography revealed atomic ratio of Li:F=1:1.1 and Al:Li:F=1:2.7: 5.4 for (AlF<sub>3</sub>)(LiF)<sub>x</sub> alloy film. These atomic ratios were consistent with the calculation from QCM experiments. Finally, lithium ion conductivity (AlF<sub>3</sub>)(LiF)<sub>x</sub> alloy film was measured as σ = 7.5 × 10<sup>-6</sup> S/cm.</div>

In Situ Measurement of Soil Heat Flux with the Gradient Method

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 589
Author(s):  
Douglas R. Cobos ◽  
John M. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Gradient Method ◽  
Soil Heat Flux ◽  
In Situ Measurement

In-Situ Measurement Technique of Stress and Structure Change

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 567-572
Author(s):  
Tadafumi HASHIMOTO ◽  
Masahito MOCHIZUKI
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Technique ◽  
Structure Change ◽  
In Situ Measurement

scholarly journals Millisecond lattice gasification for high-density CO2- and O2-sieving nanopores in single-layer graphene

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. eabf0116
Author(s):  
Shiqi Huang ◽  
Shaoxian Li ◽  
Luis Francisco Villalobos ◽  
Mostapha Dakhchoune ◽  
Marina Micari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Layer ◽  
High Density ◽  
Single Layer Graphene ◽  
Pore Density ◽  
Vacancy Defects ◽  
Carbon Gasification ◽  
Layer Graphene ◽  
Gas Molecules ◽  
Good Agreement

Etching single-layer graphene to incorporate a high pore density with sub-angstrom precision in molecular differentiation is critical to realize the promising high-flux separation of similar-sized gas molecules, e.g., CO2 from N2. However, rapid etching kinetics needed to achieve the high pore density is challenging to control for such precision. Here, we report a millisecond carbon gasification chemistry incorporating high density (>1012 cm−2) of functional oxygen clusters that then evolve in CO2-sieving vacancy defects under controlled and predictable gasification conditions. A statistical distribution of nanopore lattice isomers is observed, in good agreement with the theoretical solution to the isomer cataloging problem. The gasification technique is scalable, and a centimeter-scale membrane is demonstrated. Last, molecular cutoff could be adjusted by 0.1 Å by in situ expansion of the vacancy defects in an O2 atmosphere. Large CO2 and O2 permeances (>10,000 and 1000 GPU, respectively) are demonstrated accompanying attractive CO2/N2 and O2/N2 selectivities.

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