A 94 GHz differential radiometer for observations of diffuse sky emission

• Published in: Review of Scientific Instruments
• Main Author: Piccirillo, L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AIP Publishing 1991
• Subjects: Terra Nova Bay; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1142531; https://pubs.aip.org/aip/rsi/article-pdf/62/5/1293/19026498/1293_1_online.pdf

The design and performance of a portable 94 GHz differential radiometer is discussed. The antenna system is an off-axis paraboloid-hyperboloid combination with a field of view of about 50 arcmin. All mirrors are made of carbon fiber coated with silver. Beam switching is obtained by wobbling sinusoidally the primary (parabolic) mirror. This radiometer was used in Antarctica (Italian Base, Terra Nova Bay, −74 S, +164 E) to make measurements to the diffuse sky emission at mm wavelengths. In future, we are also planning to use the antenna, together with a more sensitive detector, to make measurements of the cosmic background radiation anisotropy (CBR).