A Study for a Radio Telescope in Indonesia: Parabolic Design, Simulation of a Horn Antenna, and Radio Frequency Survey in Frequency of 0.045–18 GHz
Peberlin Parulian Sitompul,
Pakhrur Razi,
Timbul Manik,
Mario Batubara,
Musthofa Lathif,
Farahhati Mumtahana,
Rizal Suryana,
Ibnu Nurul Huda,
Taufiq Hidayat,
Yana Taryana,
Farhan Sobirin
Affiliations
Peberlin Parulian Sitompul
Research Center for Space, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Pakhrur Razi
Center of Disaster Monitoring and Earth Observation, Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang 25111, Indonesia
Timbul Manik
Research Center for Space, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Mario Batubara
Research Center for Space, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Musthofa Lathif
Research Center for Space, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Farahhati Mumtahana
Research Center for Space, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Rizal Suryana
Research Center for Space, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Ibnu Nurul Huda
Research Center for Computing, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor 40135, Indonesia
Taufiq Hidayat
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Yana Taryana
Research Center for Telecommunication, Bandung, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Farhan Sobirin
Electrical Department, General Ahmad Yani University, Cimahi 40531, Indonesia
After years of preparation, the Indonesia National Observatory, located in Mount Timau, Kupang Regency, is currently in the completion stage of research in astronomy and astrophysics and related subjects. An optic telescope with a 3.8 m diameter is expected to receive its first light in mid-2024. A feasibility study for Indonesia’s radio telescopes and networks is in progress. A single-dish parabolic radio antenna with a diameter of 20 m is proposed to work in a frequency range of 1–50 GHz. An array dipole antenna with an area of 100 m × 100 m will also be installed at a 70–350 MHz frequency. A feasibility study about system design is in progress, and a radio frequency interference (RFI) survey has been underway since 2014. In this paper, we described the design of radio telescopes such as parabolic reflectors, horn antenna, and the radio frequency interference (RFI) in the surrounding area of the National Observatory, covering the frequency band from 45 MHz to 18 GHz. The frequencies in 45–85 MHz and 120–360 MHz intervals are still relatively quiet and suitable for developing radio telescopes. The selected higher frequency of 1.4 GHz for a neutral hydrogen (HI) spectral line, 6.6 GHz for a methanol (CH3OH) spectral line, and 8.6 GHz for a helium (3 He+) spectral line is still relatively quiet and suitable for the development of radio telescopes.