National Research Council Canada scientists produce world's mostsensitive radio detectors to probe the Universe (Forwarded)

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National Research Council Canada

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NRC Herzberg Institute for Astrophysics
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For immediate release: April 20, 2007

NRC scientists produce world's most sensitive radio detectors to probe the
Universe

Victoria, BC -- The National Research Council of Canada has designed and
built the most sensitive and precise radio detector ever built for
millimetre-wavelength operation. Called "Band 3" millimetre-wavelength
radio receivers, these devices promise to revolutionize studies of the
cold Universe, notably about the birth of stars and planets.

Created at the National Research Council Herzberg Institute of
Astrophysics (NRC-HIA), the Band 3 receiver systems will be installed on
the world's largest and most sophisticated radio telescope the Atacama
Large Millimetre Array, known as ALMA being built in the Chilean Andes.[*]
A receiver will be installed on each ALMA antenna for research purposes
but will also ensure that atmospheric disturbances are corrected across
the entire ALMA array. ALMA is the highest priority for a new ground-based
astronomical facility in the Long Range Plan for Canadian Astrophysics.
The first scientific results should be available in about three years.
Researchers expect spectacular images of young stars and galaxies to be
made using the Band 3 receivers.

Gregory Fahlman, Director General of NRC-HIA, comments: "The international
ALMA community has placed a great deal of faith in NRC's ability to
deliver stable, reliable receivers. I am very proud that we have designed
and built the highly precise electronic and mechanical components
necessary for reliable operation under extreme conditions."

Band 3 operates at a temperature of -269 C (the temperature of the
internal system necessary to suppress noise) and to withstand the harsh
external environment on the Andes in Chile . Fred Lo, Director of the US
National Radio Astronomy Observatory, stated "Band 3 will be a leading
workhorse for producing the exciting scientific discoveries we expect from
ALMA."

The Band 3 receiver can also be used in other applications. The design has
been licensed to Nanowave Technologies of Ontario. Units have already been
sold to the French atomic energy agency for use in advanced materials
research.

"In addition to creating what we believe is a unique Canadian industrial
capability to serve the needs of the worldwide Radio Astronomy and Physics
communities, the transferred technology provides Nanowave with the
additional tools to access the much larger commercial and defence radar
and satellite communications markets," comments Justin Miller, President
of Nanowave Technologies.

"We're very excited about the outstanding performance of the Band 3
receiver. It's the most sensitive receiver ever produced for this
wavelength range, and clearly marks NRC as a leader on the technological
frontier," said Adrian Russell, ALMA's North American Project Manager. "We
deeply appreciate the dedicated efforts of the Canadian team that produced
this receiver," Russell added.

Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada 's National
Research Council is a leader in the development of an innovative,
knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.
[*] ALMA is a unified collection of more than fifty high-precision radio
dishes, 5 kilometres above sea level on the Chajnantor plain, which will
be used by an international consortium for radio astronomy.

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For detailed information, pictures and interviews, please visit NRC-HIA
web site at
http://www.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/me...7-04-20_e.html