TopLevel Requirements for Antenna Verification at VLA

1
Top-Level Requirements for Antenna Verification
at VLA

• ALMA Test Facility must exist
• Currently scheduled for decommissioning in
  December 2008!
• Has 3 foundations, power, fiber connection,
  (control trailer)
• Cost of mothballing/recommissioning ATF?
• Scope of work must be understood
• What systems are to be tested? To what accuracy?
• What is the makeup of the test team? Does NRAO
  lead it?
• Who is responsible for antenna operations?
  Safety?
• How much testing is single-dish, and how much is
  interferometry?
• What is a realistic schedule?
• Funding source(s) must be identified
• PrepSKA, TDP, NSF, NRAO internal?

2
Some More Details

• Require robust control/pointing systems supplied
  along with the dishes
• Delivered systems need a data interface to the
  WIDAR correlator
• Digitally sampled data, 10 gE to deformatter
  as1-2 GHz IF
• Use modified/reproduced EVLA hardware?
• Clock/LO signals from EVLA (Master LO, 512 MHz)
• Antennas and their modules must be RFI-tight
• May require testing at VLA facility
• Frequencies compatible with EVLA
• Relevant bands are 1-2, 2-4, 4-8 GHz
• Testing needs to be compatible with existing EVLA
  configuration schedule
• 2 dishes, 12 months on site, to be removed at end
  of project?