Year: 2018
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is a very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) experiment that aims to observe supermassive black holes with an angular resolution that is comparable to the event horizon scale. The South Pole occupies an important position in the array, greatly increasing its north-south extent and therefore its resolution. The South Pole Telescope (SPT) is a 10-meter diameter, millimeter-wavelength telescope equipped for bolometric observations of the cosmic microwave background. To enable VLBI observations with the SPT we have constructed a coherent signal chain suitable for the South Pole environment. The dual-frequency receiver incorporates state-of-the-art SIS mixers and is installed in the SPT receiver cabin. The VLBI signal chain also includes a recording system and reference frequency generator tied to a hydrogen maser. Here we describe the SPT VLBI system design in detail and present both the lab measurements and on-sky results.
DOI: 10.1117/12.2301005
Authors: Junhan Kim, Daniel P. Marrone, Christopher Beaudoin, John E. Carlstrom, Sheperd S. Doeleman, Thomas W. Folkers, David Forbes, Christopher H. Greer, Eugene F. Lauria, Kyle D. Massingill, Evan Mayer, Chi H. Nguyen, George Reiland, Jason SooHoo, Laura Vertatschitsch, Jonathan Weintroub, Andre Young, Antony A. Stark
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: Center for Cosmological Physics, The Event Horizon Telescope Experiment, Exploring the Origin and Evolution of the Universe with the South Pole Telescope, Cosmological Research with the 10-meter South Pole Telescope, G5754899719, Collaborative Research: Building an Event Horizon Telescope: (Sub)millimeter VLBI from the South Pole Telescope
OpenAlex ID: W2963076714