Upgrading the Submillimeter Array: wSMA and beyond

TL;DR

This paper details the comprehensive upgrade of the Submillimeter Array, including new cryostats and receivers, significantly enhancing its bandwidth, sensitivity, and observational capabilities for future astronomical research.

Contribution

It introduces the design and implementation of the wideband upgrade (wSMA) with new receivers and improved features, enabling advanced submillimeter observations.

Findings

Successful deployment of new cryostats and receivers

Enhanced bandwidth and sensitivity achieved

Future upgrade pathways enabled by current improvements

Abstract

The Submillimeter Array (SMA) is an array of 8 antennas operating at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths on Maunakea, Hawaii, operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Taiwan. Over the past several years, we have been preparing a major upgrade to the SMA that will replace the aging original receiver cryostats and receiver cartridges with all new cryostats and new 230 and 345 GHz receiver designs. This wideband upgrade (wSMA) will also include significantly increased instantaneous bandwidth, improved sensitivity, and greater capabilities for dual frequency observations. In this paper, we will describe the wSMA receiver upgrade and status, as well as the future upgrades that will be enabled by the deployment of the wSMA receivers.