Testing a modified ASKAP Mark II phased array feed on the 64 m Parkes radio telescope

TL;DR

This paper reports the first installation and characterization of a phased array feed on the 64 m Parkes radio telescope, demonstrating its performance and potential for enhancing radio astronomical observations.

Contribution

It presents the first successful deployment and detailed performance analysis of a PAF on a large single-dish radio telescope, expanding observational capabilities.

Findings

Beamformed noise temperature between 45 K and 60 K

Aperture efficiency of 70% to 80%

Effective field of view of 1.4 deg$^2$ at 1310 MHz

Abstract

We present the first installation and characterization of a phased array feed (PAF) on the 64 m Parkes radio telescope. The combined system operates best between 0.8 GHz and 1.74 GHz where the beamformed noise temperature is between 45 K and 60 K, the aperture efficiency ranges from 70% to 80%, and the effective field of view is 1.4 deg$^2$ at 1310 MHz. After a 6-month trial observing program at Parkes, the PAF will be installed on the 100 m antenna at Effelsberg. This is the first time a PAF has been installed on a large single-antenna radio telescope and made available to astronomers.