Letter to the Editor

A 0.8 mm heterodyne facility receiver for the APEX telescope

¹ Onsala Space Observatory, Chalmers University of Technology, 43992, Sweden e-mail: crisache@eso.org
² European Southern Observatory, Casilla 19001, Santiago 19, Chile

Received: 6 April 2006
Accepted: 24 April 2006

Abstract

Aims.The new APEX telescope, located on Llano Chajnantor in Northern Chile, will have high resolution spectroscopic instruments covering the wavelength region from 0.20 to 1.30 mm (210-1500 GHz).

Methods.In May 2005, the first facility receiver for the band 0.79-1.07 mm (279-381 GHz) was installed together with backends providing down to 60 kHz spectral resolution. This instrument that operates in double sideband mode uses superconducting tunnel junctions (SIS) as mixing elements operating at 4 K to achieve close to quantum-limited noise performances. The receiver is cooled by a closed-cycle cooling machine that allows continuous operation. The receiver design minimizes moving parts and is fully operated by remote to improve its reliability and the ease of use.

Results.The double sideband (DSB) receiver temperatures are in the range 50-70 K, which typically results in a DSB system noise temperature of about 100 K in excellent weather conditions and between 100-200 K in good weather conditions.