The Simons Observatory: Characterizing the Large Aperture Telescope Receiver with Radio Holography

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates near-field radio holography as an effective method to characterize complex millimeter-wave telescope optics, enabling pre-deployment performance prediction and optimization.

Contribution

It introduces the first lab-based validation of optical performance parameters for a large aperture telescope receiver using radio holography.

Findings

Spilled power past the telescope mirrors will be less than 1%

Cryogenic measurements improved optical efficiency and reduced side-lobes

Measured beam pattern matches the nominal telescope design

Abstract

We present near-field radio holography measurements of the Simons Observatory Large Aperture Telescope Receiver optics. These measurements demonstrate that radio holography of complex millimeter-wave optical systems comprising cryogenic lenses, filters, and feed horns can provide detailed characterization of wave propagation before deployment. We used the measured amplitude and phase, at 4K, of the receiver near-field beam pattern to predict two key performance parameters: 1) the amount of scattered light that will spill past the telescope to 300K and 2) the beam pattern expected from the receiver when fielded on the telescope. These cryogenic measurements informed the removal of a filter, which led to improved optical efficiency and reduced side-lobes at the exit of the receiver. Holography measurements of this system suggest that the spilled power past the telescope mirrors will be less than 1\% and the main beam with its near side-lobes are consistent with the nominal telescope design. This is the first time such parameters have been confirmed in the lab prior to deployment of a new receiver. This approach is broadly applicable to millimeter and sub-millimeter instruments.