Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2289/2748
Title: The ALFA medium explorer mission
Authors: Jones, D.L.
Allen, R.J.
Basart, J.P.
Bastian, T.
Blume, W.H.
Bougeret, J.L.
Dennison, B.K.
Desch, M.D.
Dwarakanath, K.S.
Issue Date: 2000
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Citation: Advances in Space Research, 2000, Vol.26, p743-746
Abstract: The frequency range below a few tens of MHz is unexplored with high angular resolution due to the opacity of Earth's ionosphere. An interferometer array in space providing arcminute angular resolution images at frequencies of a few MHz would allow a wide range of problems in solar, planetary, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy to be attacked. These include the evolution of solar radio emissions associated with shocks driven by coronal mass ejections and searches for coherent radio emission from supernova remnants and relativistic jets. In addition, it is likely that unexpected objects or emission processes will be discovered by such an instrument, as has always happened when high resolution astronomical observations first become possible in a new region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Astronomical Low Frequency Array (ALFA) mission will consist of 16 identical small satellites forming an aperture synthesis array. The satellites will cover the surface of a spherical region ≈ 100 km in diameter, thus providing good aperture plane coverage in all directions simultaneously. The array will operate in two medes: 1) “snapshot” imaging of strong, rapidly changing sources such as solar radio bursts and 2) long-term aperture synthesis observations for maximum sensitivity, high dynamic range imaging. In both cases a large number of array elements is needed.
Description: Restricted Access.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2289/2748
ISSN: 0273-1177
Alternative Location: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/bib_query?2000AdSpR..26..743J
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(99)01204-1
Copyright: 2000 Elsevier B.V.
Appears in Collections:Research Papers (A&A)

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