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IF processor and narrow-band correlator

Figure: Example of spectral coverage, as produced by the ASTRO LINE command. The image band is plotted for information only, the receivers are single side band. Possible contamination by instrumental interferences in the signal band are indicated.
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{noema-intro-if1}

The narrow-band correlator accepts as input two signals of 1 GHz bandwidth, that must be selected within the 3.6 GHz delivered by the receiver. In practice, the IF processor splits the two input 4.2-7.8 GHz bands in four 1 GHz ``quarters'', labeled Q1...Q4 (see Fig. [*]). Two of these quarters must be selected as narrow-band correlator inputs. The system allows the following choices:

where HOR and VER refers to the two polarizations:

Quarter
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
IF1 [GHz] 4.2 - 5.2 5.0 - 6.0 6.0 - 7.0 6.8 - 7.8

input 1
HOR HOR VER VER
input 2 VER VER HOR HOR

       


Note, that the combination VER VER is not allowed.

How to observe two polarizations? To observe simultaneously two polarizations at the same sky frequency, one must select the same quarter (Q1 or Q2 or Q3 or Q4) for the two narrow-band correlator entries. This will necessarily result in each entry seeing a different polarization. The system thus gives access to 1 GHz $\times$ 2 polarizations.

How to use the full 2 GHz bandwidth of the narrow-band correlator? If two different quarters are selected (any combination except VER VER is possible), a bandwidth of 2 GHz can be analyzed by the narrow-band correlator. Only one polarization per quarter is available in that case; this may or may not be the same polarization for the two chunks of 1 GHz.

Is there any overlap between the four quarters? In fact, the four available quarters are 1 GHz wide each, but with a small overlap between some of them: Q1 is 4.2 to 5.2 GHz, Q2 is 5.0 to 6.0 GHz, Q3 is 6.0 to 7.0 GHz, and Q4 is 6.8 to 7.8 GHz. This results from the combination of filters and LOs used in the IF processor.

Is the 2 GHz bandwidth necessarily contiguous? No. Any combination (except VER VER) of two quarters can be selected. Adjacent quarters will result in a (quasi) continuous 1.8-2 GHz band. Non-adjacent quarters will result in two separate 1 GHz bands.

Where is the selected sky frequency in the IF band? It would be natural to tune the receivers such that the selected sky frequency corresponds to the middle of the IF bandwidth, i.e. 6.0 GHz. However, this corresponds to the limit between Q2 and Q3. If your project depends on the narrow-band correlator, it is therefore highly recommended to center a line at the center of a quarter (see Section ``ASTRO'' below). In all bands, the receivers offer best performance in terms of receiver noise and sideband rejection in Q3 (i.e. the line should be centered at an IF1 frequency of 6500 MHz).


next up previous contents index
Next: Spectral units of the Up: Correlators Previous: Wideband correlator   Contents   Index
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