SCUBA. Submillimetre common-user bolometer array for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope

Colin R. Cunningham, Walter K. Gear

Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/ProceedingConference Publicationpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We describe a submillimetre continuum array instrument being built by the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh (ROE) for the 15m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The instrument contains 2 arrays, one of 91 pixels optimised for 438 μm and the second of 37 pixels optimised for 855 μm. Both are hexagonally close-packed, with each pixel having diffraction-limited angular resolution. Conical horns and single-moded waveguides are used to couple to the submillimetre beams, minimising the bolometer background loading. A filter changing mechanism allows operation of the arrays at 350 and 750 μm. Single 'photometric' pixels are provided optimised for operation at 350, 600, 750, 1100, 1400 and 2000 μm. The instrument will have bolometers sensitive enough to reach the photon-noise sensitivity limit at both wavelengths, corresponding to an optical noise equivalent power (NEP) of 1.6×10-16 W.Hz- 1/2 . This is achieved by cooling to 0.1 K, using a dilution refrigerator.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
PublisherPubl by Int Soc for Optical Engineering
Pages515-523
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)0819402796, 9780819402790
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1990
Externally publishedYes
EventInstrumentation in Astronomy VII - Tucson, AZ, USA
Duration: 13 Feb 199017 Feb 1990

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume1235 pt 1
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceInstrumentation in Astronomy VII
CityTucson, AZ, USA
Period13/02/9017/02/90

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