This is the project planning web for the Deep Dish Demonstrator Array (D3A).
Goals
The HIRAX and CHORD groups have proposed deployment of a Deep Dish Demonstration Array (D3A) at DRAO with the goals of
characterize DRAO composite dishes, especially unit-to-unit manufacturing repeatability to the 0.1% level (radiation pattern),
demonstrating end-to-end performance of HIRAX prototypes before pulling the trigger on production in South Africa, which could be done as early as Jan 2020; and
demonstrating various aspects of CHORD (dishes, feeds, LNAs, etc.) before the CFI proposal is submitted this fall (current guess: November).
Detailed discussion here.
Global Specifications
2 × 3-m dishes (f/D = 0.25, prime focus)
Simple manually-operated mounts (elevation angle ±30° of zenith)
Foundations sufficient for consistent pointing over a couple weeks
Interferometer with 26-m dish for measuring complex beam cuts (drift scans through bright point-like sources)
Feeds
HIRAX: 400–800 MHz
CHORD: 400–2000 or 300–1500 MHz
CHIME-like backend
Detailed discussion here.
People
Academic leaders: Keith Vanderlinde (UofT) / Matt Dobbs (McGill) / Cynthia Chiang (McGill)
NRC project management:
Project Manager: Richard Hellyer
Project Engineer: Bruce Veidt
Project Scientist: Bruce Veidt
Contact list and individual roles here.
Slack Channel:
The goal is to have a system put together by the summer of 2019. This rapid deployment is necessary for the end-to-end testing of HIRAX prototypes before commencing production in January, 2020. D3A will also be used for demonstration of components for CHORD in preparation of a CFI grant proposal in ~November, 2019.
Gantt charts are here.