Nanotechnology Makes Supertelescopes Much More Sensitive

SPACE SCOPES

They have succeeded in drastically increasing the sensitivity of ALMA in a crucial frequency range by improving the functioning of the major component, the radiation-sensor. This involves what are known as super-conducting tunnel junctions. These miniscule sensors comprise two superconductors which are separated by an insulating layer measuring 1 to 2 nanometres, usually of aluminium oxide, with an area of 500 by 500 nanometres.

by Staff Writers
Delft, Netherlands (SPX) Feb 03, 2009
Nanotechnologist Chris Lodewijk has succeeded in significantly increasing the sensitivity of the new supertelescopes in Chile. He will receive his PhD on this topic at TU Delft on Monday 2 February.

In Chile's Atacama desert, technicians and astronomers from around the world are currently working on the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). This consists of 66 advanced telescopes which will be placed at an altitude of 5,000 metres and together will provide a more precise image of the universe.

They are chiefly aimed at shedding light on the question of how stars and planets are formed. ALMA is expected to be taken into service in 2012 and is viewed by astronomers as a major step forward for their field.

Aluminium nitride
Dutch astronomers have been closely involved in developing ALMA in a fruitful collaboration with nanotechnologists. The latest contribution from the nano-world comes from PhD candidate Chris Lodewijk and technician Tony Zijlstra at TU Delft's Kavli Institute of Nanoscience.

They have succeeded in drastically increasing the sensitivity of ALMA in a crucial frequency range by improving the functioning of the major component, the radiation-sensor.

This involves what are known as super-conducting tunnel junctions. These miniscule sensors comprise two superconductors which are separated by an insulating layer measuring 1 to 2 nanometres, usually of aluminium oxide, with an area of 500 by 500 nanometres.

However, it is impossible to avoid a very thin layer of 1 nanometre of aluminium oxide 'leaking' in certain spots. Lodewijk and Zijlstra therefore conducted research into replacing aluminium oxide with aluminium nitride (AlN), with spectacular results. An aluminium nitride layer proves to be much more homogeneous and its sensitivity, in the 602 to 720 GHz range, is also much improved.

Herschel
Incidentally, Lodewijk's research topic of super-conducting tunnel junctions is also essential to the functioning of the Herschel Space Telescope, which is to be launched in April. The Herschel Space Telescope is the successor to the Hubble telescope. TU Delft's Kavli Institute of Nanoscience has developed many of the crucial tunnel junctions for the Herschel Telescope's measuring equipment.

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

SPACE SCOPES

IAU Releases Milestone Book And Movie Celebrating The Telescope

Paris, France (ESO) Jan 24, 2009
One of the International Astronomical Union's contributions to the International Year of Astronomy 2009 is the new book and movie Eyes on the Skies - 400 Years of Telescopic Discovery, telling the fascinating story of the telescope, from its invention to the modern day. Review copies of the book, published by Wiley, and documentary movie are available for the press.

ROCKET SCIENCE Two Rockets Fly Through Auroral Arc U.S. rocketry competition is under way ATK And NASA Complete Major Milestones For NASA Constellation Program KSC Operations And Checkout Facility Ready To Start Orion Spacecraft Integration	LAUNCH PAD Arianespace seals four-billion-euro rocket deal Arianespace Orders 35 Ariane 5 ECA Launchers From Astrium Russia Makes First Space Launch Of 2009 New Ariane 5 Arrives In French Guiana
SHUTTLE NEWS STS-119 Mission Preps Move Forward Discovery Gets New Valves - Crew Practices Simulated Liftoff Preparations Continue Toward Discovery's Liftoff Shuttle Crew Complete Rehearsal And More For STS-119 Launch	STATION NEWS Russia To Use Two Launch Pads At Baikonur For ISS Missions Kogod Students Pioneer Branding Potential Of International Space Station Spacehab To Support Pre-Launch Preparations For Russian Module Russia Tests Phone Home To Santa Network
SPACE TRAVEL Successful Test In Development Of NASA's New Crew Rocket Planetary Society Reaches Out To Congress On NASA Funding Spaceport America And Sweden Announce Sister Spaceports Weightless Students Test Personal Navigation Aid For Spaceflight	DRAGON SPACE China plans own satellite navigation system by 2015: state media Fengyun-3A Weather Satellite Begins Weather Monitoring Shenzhou-7 Monitor Satellite Finishes Mission After 100 Days In Space China Launches Third Fengyun-2 Series Weather Satellite
ROBO SPACE ASI Chaos Small Robot To Participate In Series Of Exercises Iowa Staters Advance Developmental Robotics With Goal Of Teaching Robots To Learn Japanese security robot nets intruders AF Officials Look At Robots For Aircraft Ground Refueling	MARSDAILY NASA And Google Launch Virtual Exploration Of Mars NASA-Derived Technology Captures Unique Inaugural Image Mars Rover Team Diagnosing Unexpected Behavior Opportunity Has A Post-Solar Conjunction Hangover

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement