10 Involvement of the Sardinia Radio Telescope in the Breakthrough Listen Initiatives
101
Fig. 10.2 INAF institutes
involved in the PON
10.2 Enhancement of the SRT for the Study of the Universe
at High Radio Frequencies
SRT currently has three available receivers: the dual-band L-P band [3] (305–410
MHz; 1300–1800 MHz), C-high band (5.7–7.7 GHz) and K-band (18–26.5 GHz) [4];
the latter has seven feeds. However, the telescope was designed to cover the whole
electromagnetic field in the frequency range 0.3–115 GHz. In order to achieve such
a spectral coverage, as well as improve the telescope capabilities and allow efficient
operations at such high frequencies, INAF participated in a call for proposals for
grants aimed to enhance research infrastructures, the so-called PON (National Operative Program). INAF was awarded the national tender and obtained 18.7 million of
euros to be spent within 32 months, of which 15% were destined to the other two Italian radio astronomical facilities which are both 32-m across, Medicina
5 and Noto.
6
The PON project is carried out by four INAF institutes: Arcetri/Firenze (Florence),
Bologna, Cagliari and Catania; Fig. 10.2 shows the geographical positions of the four
aforementioned locations in Italy.
5 http://www.med.ira.inaf.it/parabola32m.html.
6 http://www.noto.ira.inaf.it/.
101
Fig. 10.2 INAF institutes
involved in the PON
10.2 Enhancement of the SRT for the Study of the Universe
at High Radio Frequencies
SRT currently has three available receivers: the dual-band L-P band [3] (305–410
MHz; 1300–1800 MHz), C-high band (5.7–7.7 GHz) and K-band (18–26.5 GHz) [4];
the latter has seven feeds. However, the telescope was designed to cover the whole
electromagnetic field in the frequency range 0.3–115 GHz. In order to achieve such
a spectral coverage, as well as improve the telescope capabilities and allow efficient
operations at such high frequencies, INAF participated in a call for proposals for
grants aimed to enhance research infrastructures, the so-called PON (National Operative Program). INAF was awarded the national tender and obtained 18.7 million of
euros to be spent within 32 months, of which 15% were destined to the other two Italian radio astronomical facilities which are both 32-m across, Medicina
5 and Noto.
6
The PON project is carried out by four INAF institutes: Arcetri/Firenze (Florence),
Bologna, Cagliari and Catania; Fig. 10.2 shows the geographical positions of the four
aforementioned locations in Italy.
5 http://www.med.ira.inaf.it/parabola32m.html.
6 http://www.noto.ira.inaf.it/.