UAF Technical Collaboration: A Future for Millstone Hill & Arecibo

UAF Technical Collaboration:UAF Technical Collaboration:A Future for Millstone Hill & AreciboA Future for Millstone Hill & Arecibo

Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico305 m spherical reflector, 430 MHz, 1963

Millstone Hill, Mass.46, 67 m dishes, 440 MHz,

~1960

The Mid Latitude Big-Dish RadarsThe Mid Latitude Big-Dish Radars

BMEWS Transmitter (Millstone)BMEWS Transmitter (Millstone)Transmitters

U1 operational, U2 offline temporarily (back in 2009)

Klystrons16 klystrons remain at MillstoneStatus of all klystrons is not known (4 in use)Burn rate lowered to about 1 per year from 2 per year

Modulator deckSome reliability issuesModulator tubes out of production (7 remaining)

Driver AmplifierLegacy driver amplifier - limited performanceAMISR amplifiers being tested (2 working units)Custom 1 kW UHF amplifier REU project (2007)

Control and MonitoringWaveguide switch controller replacedSome monitoring improvements underwayNational Instruments cRIO units / Realtime LabviewNew Timing System implementation in early 2009

What?What?Millstone Hill & Arecibo Joint ModernizationMillstone Hill & Arecibo Joint Modernization

Modernize Arecibo and Millstone Hill Modernize Arecibo and Millstone Hill transmitter systems to use transmitter systems to use “identical” “identical” hardwarehardware from Tx to antenna interface from Tx to antenna interface

Off-the-shelf transmitter from Off-the-shelf transmitter from commercial commercial vendorvendor

Approx cost: $10MApprox cost: $10M for two upgraded systems for two upgraded systems Vendor located in Boston area – test Tx at Vendor located in Boston area – test Tx at

MHOMHO Use zenith and motion-limited MISA at MHRUse zenith and motion-limited MISA at MHR MIDAS-M (e.g.) for signal processingMIDAS-M (e.g.) for signal processing Use existing site infrastructure and Use existing site infrastructure and

personnelpersonnel Build regional DASI around ISRsBuild regional DASI around ISRs

CPI Tube and DTI CPI Tube and DTI TransmitterTransmitter

CPI 1MW UHF IOTCPI 1MW UHF IOT Example DTI TransmitterExample DTI Transmitter

CPI High Power Pulsed UHF Inductive Output TubeCPI High Power Pulsed UHF Inductive Output TubeDerived from Digital Television Transmitter TechnologyDerived from Digital Television Transmitter Technology20% of the Size and Weight of a UHF klystron20% of the Size and Weight of a UHF klystron100 kW of Average Power, 1 MW peak, 10% Duty Cycle100 kW of Average Power, 1 MW peak, 10% Duty Cycle1 Tube System with a Typical Replacement Period of order 5 Years 1 Tube System with a Typical Replacement Period of order 5 Years Tube NRE in $700k range with unit costs of order $300k in small quantitiesTube NRE in $700k range with unit costs of order $300k in small quantities

DTI Transmitter with Solid State Modulation for High ReliabilityDTI Transmitter with Solid State Modulation for High ReliabilitySingle tube pulsed IOT transmitter (NRE $1.2M, Hardware $1M)Single tube pulsed IOT transmitter (NRE $1.2M, Hardware $1M)Hardware costs roughly linear with tube count plus combiner networkHardware costs roughly linear with tube count plus combiner network

Inductive Output Tube PerformanceInductive Output Tube Performance

Highly Efficient Tube (70% of input power out as RF)Highly Efficient Tube (70% of input power out as RF)

Efficient Operation at All Power Levels!Efficient Operation at All Power Levels!

Operate Transmitter With Operate Transmitter With Variable Output PowerVariable Output Power

Vary Output Power Based on Space Weather ConditionsVary Output Power Based on Space Weather Conditions

Always on OperationAlways on Operation - Lower Overall System Operating Cost - Lower Overall System Operating Cost

Transmitter Transmitter DesignDesign

Cargo Container for Easy TransportCargo Container for Easy Transport

Power, Fiber, WaveguidePower, Fiber, Waveguide

Fully Automated Remote OperationsFully Automated Remote Operations

RF Amplifier SubsystemRF Amplifier Subsystem Cooling SubsystemCooling Subsystem Control and Monitoring SubsystemControl and Monitoring Subsystem

HV Power SubsystemHV Power Subsystem HV and Cooling Power SupplyHV and Cooling Power Supply

Tube AssemblyTube Assembly

Focusing MagnetFocusing MagnetCavity Cavity TuningTuning

ControlControlInterfaceInterface

ControlControlSensorsSensors

CPI CPI 1MW IOT1MW IOT

Solid Solid StateStateDriverDriver

DTI Power DTI Power supply and supply and ModulatorModulator

HV Isolation cage with lockoutHV Isolation cage with lockout

ControlControlInterfaceInterface

HV GroundingHV GroundingAssemblyAssembly

ControlControlSensorsSensors

480 Volt 480 Volt three phasethree phaseregulatorregulator

120 Volt 120 Volt single phasesingle phaseregulatorregulator

ControlControlInterfaceInterface

ControlControlSensorsSensors

Breakers Breakers BoxesBoxesMeteringMetering

ModularModularChillerChillerSystemSystem

CargoCargoContainerContainerAir ConditioningAir Conditioning

ControlControlInterfaceInterface

ControlControlSensorsSensors

WR2100 RF OUTPUTWR2100 RF OUTPUT

Safety SubsystemSafety Subsystem

RF Signal and RF Signal and Power MonitoringPower Monitoring

MIDAS-MIDAS-MobileMobileTX/RXTX/RXControlControl

Fiber Fiber NetworkNetworkInterfaceInterface

FailsafeFailsafeTX SubsystemTX SubsystemControlControl

Fiber Control InterfaceFiber Control Interface

Kirk KeyKirk KeySystemSystem

HV HV InterlocksInterlocks

HV HV InhibitInhibitSystemSystem

RFRFInhibitInhibitSystemSystem

FireFireSupressionSupressionSystemSystem

RF & HVRF & HVWarningWarningLightsLights

EntryEntrySensors &Sensors &CamerasCameras

RF Waveguide TapRF Waveguide TapCargo ContainerCargo Container

Why?Why?Positive Aspects of Transmitter Positive Aspects of Transmitter

ModernizationModernization Expand the unique capabilities of MH and AO dish Expand the unique capabilities of MH and AO dish

radarsradars Simplify – remove duplication – share maintenanceSimplify – remove duplication – share maintenance Address UAF directive to move toward shared Address UAF directive to move toward shared

technologytechnology 24/7 operations using auto event-detect 24/7 operations using auto event-detect Untended, low-power survey operation – reduced costUntended, low-power survey operation – reduced cost Science: ISR coverage of low and PBL mid latitudesScience: ISR coverage of low and PBL mid latitudes Maintain the low-elevation (large-FOV) capability of Maintain the low-elevation (large-FOV) capability of

MHRMHR Solidify a core of ISR expertise on the East CoastSolidify a core of ISR expertise on the East Coast Get two modern radars for the price of oneGet two modern radars for the price of one

MIDAS-Mobile Coherent Software Radio SystemMIDAS-Mobile Coherent Software Radio System

MIDAS-MMIDAS-M : Latest Millstone Data System : Latest Millstone Data System Millstone UHF Radar and ISIS ArrayMillstone UHF Radar and ISIS Array Currently entering testing for production level IS radar applicationsCurrently entering testing for production level IS radar applications

Software Radar ArchitectureSoftware Radar Architecture : Raw Voltage Based Processing : Raw Voltage Based Processing Realtime signal processing, analysis, database, and visualizationRealtime signal processing, analysis, database, and visualization Production quality IS radar ion line processingProduction quality IS radar ion line processing Active and Passive Radar, Monostatic/Multistatic, Satellite Beacons, Spectral MonitoringActive and Passive Radar, Monostatic/Multistatic, Satellite Beacons, Spectral Monitoring

Advanced digital receiversAdvanced digital receivers ECDR-GC314FSECDR-GC314FSSix analog inputs (2 cards)Six analog inputs (2 cards)Up to 24 simultaneous RF channelsUp to 24 simultaneous RF channels

Ultra stable GPS locked oscillatorsUltra stable GPS locked oscillators Wide area coherenceWide area coherenceAbsolute alignment of data to UTCAbsolute alignment of data to UTC1 part in 1E11, 20 nsec alignment1 part in 1E11, 20 nsec alignmentLow phase noiseLow phase noise

High integration UHF Radar TunersHigh integration UHF Radar TunersDC to 1500 MHz (with external filters)DC to 1500 MHz (with external filters)30 MHz down-converted bandwidth30 MHz down-converted bandwidth

Fully remote Internet based operationFully remote Internet based operationRealtime web based visualizationRealtime web based visualizationGrid ComputingGrid ComputingRemote power controlRemote power control