Drone Beam Mapping of the TONE Radio Dish Array

TL;DR

This paper introduces a drone-based calibration system for 21 cm cosmology telescopes, providing high-resolution 2D beam maps, polarization measurements, and RFI characterization, advancing calibration techniques for radio observatories.

Contribution

The paper presents the first drone-based 2D measurements of cross-polar beam structure and polarization alignment, with a broad-band switched calibration source integrated into the drone payload.

Findings

High-resolution 2D beam maps of the TONE array obtained

Significant polarization leakage detected above 600 MHz

First measurements of drone-emitted RFI and background subtraction

Abstract

Drone-based beam measurements are a promising avenue to tackle the critical challenge of calibration for 21 cm cosmology telescopes. In this paper, we introduce a new drone-based calibration system for 400-800 MHz radio observatories, describing its instrumentation and first deployment. We discuss measurements of the TONE array, a CHIME/FRB outrigger pathfinder, and present results, including full 2D high spatial resolution beam maps in both co- and cross-polarization, as well as comparisons to simulations. The polarized beam maps cover a 70 degree by 70 degree grid, capturing the first two sidelobes and measuring the TONE main beam and first sidelobe with 7-9% statistical errors. We investigate polarization angle alignment with frequency, finding significant polarization leakage in the TONE antennas at frequencies above 600 MHz, and a polarization axis rotation with frequency. We describe statistical and systematic errors, as well as measurements of radio frequency interference from the drone and equipment. Our drone system is the first to incorporate a broad-band switched calibration source in the drone payload, enabling background subtraction and direct measurements of the RFI emitted by the drone. The results presented are the first drone-based 2D measurements of cross-polar beam structure and of polarization alignment of an array. The high frequency and spatial resolution achieved with this system have revealed the rich structure of the beam of each antenna, and enabled comparisons between individual dishes and to electromagnetic simulations.