Ageing Characterization Under Thermal Test of a Receiver Unit for a Radio Telescope

Abstract

The Square Kilometer Array low (SKAlow) is an outstanding project aiming at building the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope. The Australian Murchison Shire desert has been chosen as location for the low-frequency antennas because of many reasons, such as the atmospheric above the site and the radio quietness due to one of the most remote location worldwide. This location is the optimal choice by a radio astronomy and RF engineering point of views. However, it brings several drawbacks in terms of system availability due to the high temperature conditions that deeply affect the electronics reliability, and the difficulties and the costs associated to maintenance tasks performed in a remote location. Thus, it is fundamental to study the reliability and functional performances of the auxiliary electronic devices in the antennas array using adequate aging tests under temperature stress conditions. The experimental activities carried out in this work allowed to investigate the outbreak of failure mechanisms due to aging and hot temperature conditions in the receiver unit for low-frequency antennas of the SKA project. The experimental results are intended to better determine the strengths and weaknesses of the device under test in order to optimize its installation, its maintenance operations and its functionalities.

Keywords

• Antenna arrays
• failure analysis
• radio astronomy
• reliability
• temperature control