Ultra Wideband (UWB) Receiver for Radio Astronomy

Advancements in receiver technology have been crucial for probing radio-frequency signals from distant sources. The survey speed of a radio telescope represents a critical constraint on astronomical observations and can be expressed in broad terms as the product of bandwidth, field of view and squared sensitivity [1]. Recent advances in digital signal processing allow receivers to provide greater bandwidth and field of view, improving survey speed for any given sensitivity. This paper discusses the fundamental radio telescope design principles, recent design challenges and progress made towards realizing a single feed L-S band receiver system covering from 704 MHz to 4032 MHz. The system design with emphasis on warm (non-cryogenic) electronics, impact of external Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) on the receiver and the commissioning results of the system on the 64m Parkes Radio Telescope in Australia are presented in this paper.