New ‘eyes’ for ALMA telescope

On 21 April, three crates were shipped from the Kapteyn Institute in Groningen to Chili. They contained the first three ‘Band 5’ receivers for the ALMA radio telescope. Over the next 24 months, the Kapteyn Institute, together with the National Research School for Astronomy NOVA, will deliver 73 of these receivers.

The 66 dishes of ALMA can each be fitted with ten different receivers, each receiver covering a specific frequency band. Earlier, Kapteyn/NOVA designed and produced 73 receivers for Band 9. In March 2013, a contract was signed to also build the Band 5 receivers.

The first three receivers will arrive at ALMA in Chili early in May. In the beginning of June, Kapteyn/NOVA staff member Jan Barkhof will assist the installation of the receivers on three dishes. The first observations in this frequency band will start when the 16 receivers are installed and operational, a process expected to be comlete by the end of the year.