Automatic autocollimation adjustment and elements' efficiency control of the RATAN-600 radio telescope

 

V. B. Khaikin, N. N. Bursov

Special Astrophysical Observatory of RAS

 

The paper is received on October 12, 2016

 

Abstract. Autocollimation adjustment method has been proposed for the variable profile antenna in the end of the 1960s; it is the most popular method of adjustment of the RATAN-600 radio telescope up to the present time. We give a particular methodology and results of the automatic autocollimation adjustment (alignment of panels) of the Northern sector of RATAN-600 using a new generation of adjustment equipment on a wavelength of 8 mm. A method of an automatic measurement of panel efficiency (contribution) is proposed to diagnose the condition of the antenna, the performance of panels operation and the quality control of the adjustment. The results of the automatic adjustment, panel efficiency control and subsequent observations demonstrate the high efficiency of the proposed method. With the current condition of the kinematics and ACS of the radio telescope, accuracy of the antenna element alignment achieved after an automatic autocollimation adjustment can be estimated at the level of 0.15 mm (r.m.s), while the time of three-coordinates adjustment of the panel is 1.5-2 minutes. Automatic autocollimation adjustment of the Northern sector (225 elements) takes 6.5-7 hours, the automatic measurement of the efficiency of panels — 3.5 hours. The results of measurements show the need for the modernization of the kinematic mechanisms of the radio telescope elements in order to improve the performance of the alignment procedure itself, and the efficiency of short-wavelength observations.

Key words: radio telescope, automatic autocollimation adjustment, antenna efficiency, panel efficiency and contribution

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