The improved ARTEMIS IV multichannel solar radio spectrograph of the University of Athens

TL;DR

The paper describes an upgraded multichannel solar radio spectrograph at the University of Athens, covering 20-650 MHz, with automated operation and remote control capabilities for studying solar radio bursts.

Contribution

It introduces an improved solar radio spectrograph with expanded frequency coverage, enhanced automation, and remote operation, enabling better solar radio burst observations.

Findings

Expanded frequency coverage from 20 to 650 MHz.

Fully automated daily operation with remote control.

High sensitivity and parallel data acquisition systems.

Abstract

We present the improved solar radio spectrograph of the University of Athens operating at the Thermopylae Satellite Telecommunication Station. Observations now cover the frequency range from 20 to 650 MHz. The spectrograph has a 7-meter moving parabola fed by a log-periodic antenna for 100 650 MHz and a stationary inverted V fat dipole antenna for the 20 100 MHz range. Two receivers are operating in parallel, one swept frequency for the whole range (10 spectrums/sec, 630 channels/spectrum) and one acousto-optical receiver for the range 270 to 450 MHz (100 spectrums/sec, 128 channels/spectrum). The data acquisition system consists of two PCs (equipped with 12 bit, 225 ksamples/sec ADC, one for each receiver). Sensitivity is about 3 SFU and 30 SFU in the 20 100 MHz and 100 650 MHz range respectively. The daily operation is fully automated: receiving universal time from a GPS, pointing the antenna to the sun, system calibration, starting and stopping the observations at preset times, data acquisition, and archiving on DVD. We can also control the whole system through modem or Internet. The instrument can be used either by itself or in conjunction with other instruments to study the onset and evolution of solar radio bursts and associated interplanetary phenomena.