Date: 30.06.2016 Author: Alan Roy Subject: VLBI at APEX: Preparation for July 2016 Visit Experiment Aim Install DBBC3 Test new dual-pol 230 GHz Rx in VLBI Test 4 GHz x 2 pol bandwidth = 32 Gbps sampling & recording Test observation in 2016 July 13 and 19 with SMA Polarimetry and flux monitoring on Sgr A* with 2x baseline length of Johnson et al. 2015 Science in parallel with Spitzer and NIR 2 monitoring Summary Target sources: Frequency: Array: Sgr A* polarization, 3C 279, NRAO 530, PKS B1921-293 (fringe finders) 230 GHz APEX-SMA Dates: 2016 July 13 04:00 to 09:00 UT 00:00 to 05:00 LST 00:00 to 05:00 Chile Local 2016 Jul 19 04:00 to 09:00 UT Backends: Recorders: Bandwidth: People: Correlation: Key Dates 1x DBBC3 (new upgrade from DBBC2) 2x R2DBE + BDC for zero-baseline tests Mark 6: 2x recorders for DBBC3 (8x 4 Gbps) Mark 6: 2x recorders for R2DBE (2x 8 Gbps) DBBC3: 2x 4096 MHz sampled band, single channel, no PFB gives 8x 4.069 Gbps 2x R2DBE: 4x 2048 MHz sampled band, single channel, no PFB, gives 4x 8.192 Gbps APEX: Alan Roy, Sven Dornbusch, Jan Wagner, Stefan Heyminck Bonn/Haystack Last shipping date from Bonn: 20.06.2016 10 days before setup starts, plus buffer 4 days Arrivals in Sequitor: 01.07.2016 Setup start: 02.07.2016 Setup end: 11.07.2016 morning only / afternoon rest / evening obs Observing: 11.07.2016 20:20 to Jul 12 01:20 local Chile time Shutdown finished: 15.07.2016 Observing weather fallback: 17.07.2016 to 18.07.2016 local date
Departures: 19+20.07.2016 Travel APEX VLBI System Upgrade July 2016: 32 Gbps + 16 Gbps, 1x DBBC3 + 2x R2DBE, 4x Mark 6 Figure: Red: to be installed July 2016.
Equipment Preparations for APEX: WP 3.1 Time & Frequency: Restart maser Roy July 2016 Environmental chamber maintenance Roy/Wagner Order Agilent E8241A or equivalent PSG for 1 st LO Roy Feb 2016 WP 3.3 Receiver: Quarter-wave plate 340 GHz for FLASH/SHeFI/Pico/PdB. WP 3.4 Downconversion: Repair downconverter remote control Max-Moerbeck Feb 2016 2016 Plan downconversion for dual-pol Rx Roy/Kasemann Dec Build IF conditioning for dual pol Rx Roy/Max-Moerbeck Feb 2016 WP 3.5 Sampling: Zero-baseline test of R2DBE + DBBC3 in Bonn Roy/Sven/Gino Feb 2016 Noise source 4 GHz BW for DBBC3 test Roy/Max-Moerbeck WP 3.6 Recording: Order He6 disks and modules, assemble Maertens Order more transceivers Roy Test jive5ab WP 3.7 Cabling: Order/install IF cables for B-cabin to DBBC3 Roy Install cabling for maser 10 MHz to B cabin WP 10 Publication: Project Book update Roy
WP 3.1 Time and Frequency Issues: Maser + HVAC got powered off at main switchboard. Environmental chamber HVAC is sometimes commanded with short (1 s) cooling bursts. UPS for maser and chamber is defective. 1 st LO in new dual-pol Rx (VDI) is unknown / have backup in case of high phase noise Not enough maser 10 MHz out for B-Cabin / need 10 MHz patch panel in instrument container. Work: Restart maser Revise configuration of chamber regulator to avoid short AC cycles. Load revised configuration in chamber regulator / test Replace water level sensor Defective UPS: ship to manufacturer Find/order Agilent E8241A or equivalent PSG for 1 st LO Cantzler / Roy Roy / KlimaSystems Roy Roy Design/manufacture patch panel Order connectors for cutting 10 MHz ref cables in instrument container UPS Replacement Plan: Remove failed Effekta MKD-1000: from maser HVAC / return to Bonn/Effekta Move Effekta MKD-700 from Mark 5C recorders to replace UPS in HVAC. Check Effekta MKD-700 batteries in maser chamber / if overcharged return to Bonn/Effekta. WP 3.4 Downconversion Issues: Bandwidth is being increased at EHT to 32 Gpbs (2x 4 GHz) APEX dual-pol receiver requires dual-channel downconverter. Work: Plan APEX downconverter modifications Roy & Kasemann, Nov 2014 Order components Maertens, Nov 2014 Repair & upgrade downconverter, add IF conditioner for B cabin Roy, Jan 2015 Review of EHT Bandwidth Expansion: 2016 March: 2 pol x 4 GHz/pol (32 Gbps) APEX Downconverter Modification Plan: A-Cabin: Amplify 4-8 GHz IF and send to instrument container. Dual channel for future dual pol B-Cabin: IF Conditioning amplify/filter 2x 4-8 GHz initially, additional 2x 8-12 GHz later, send to Instrument container.
WP 3.5 Sampling Issues: Upgrade DBBC2 to DBBC3 in Bonn ZBT in Bonn, install at APEX. Need noise source with 4-8 GHz BW for testing DBBC3 Work: Update VLBI system block diagram for DBBC3 + R2DBE parallel operation, Test in lab Noise Source: Design/build noise source Band: 0 to 4 GHz and 4-8 GHz Output level: -7 dbm over 2 GHz for R2DBE or -30 dbm over 4-8 GHz Noise from 50 ohm pad: kt = -174 dbm / Hz = -81 dbm over 2 GHz Need 74 db gain. Amplifier: Mini-Circuits ZX60-4016E+, gain = 18.2 db at 2 GHz, 14.9 db at 4 GHz, 12 V 0.77 W, 53 USD Mini-Circuits ZX60-V63+, gain = 20.3 db at 2 GHz, 18.0 db at 4 GHz, 5 V 0.35 W, 53 USD Need 5 devices. Lab device uses 8 devices gives -17 dbm over 2 GHz -> need 1 more amp = 9 amps., plus one to offset splitters Filter: VLF-3400+ Splitter for tone addition: Lab device uses ZFRSC-42-S+ but 6 db loss. Figure: R2DBE, DBBC3 IF structure
WP 3.6 Recording Issues: dplane buggy Need 6 modules for one recorder 32 Gbps, other 16 Gbps Bandwidth increase needs more transceivers Work: Test jive5ab Purchase/assemble He6 modules if needed Room over-temperature protection: auto-power shutdown for recorders? Order transceivers WP 3.7 Cabling Issues: Need 10 MHz B cabin Need IF cables B-cabin Need lockable BNC for 10 MHz ref B-cabin Need additional fibre (24 cores) instrument container to recorder room Need fibre patch cables for more DBBC3 outputs
Cabling for VLBI Equipment From To Length Type Connectors Label Comments RF Cables (B-Cabin) 10 MHz Patch InstCntr B-cabin VD Synthesizer 22 m LMR-200-UF N / N Maser 10 MHz / B Cabin Synth 1 10 MHz Patch InstCntr B-cabin Comb gen synth 22 m LMR-200-UF N / N Maser 10 MHz / B Cabin Synth 2 10 MHz Patch InstCntr B-cabin Comb gen synth 22 m LMR-200-UF N / N Maser 10 MHz / B Cabin Synth 3 PI230 IF patch IF power splitter 2.5 m LMR-240-UF SMA / SMA PI230 Pol 1 / IF B Cabin Pol 1 PI230 IF patch IF power splitter 2.5 m LMR-240-UF SMA / SMA PI230 Pol 2 / IF B Cabin Pol 2 XFFTS rack VLBI rack 5 7 m LMR-400-UF N / N IF B Cabin Pol 1 / VLBI IF in XFFTS rack VLBI rack 5 7 m LMR-400-UF N / N IF B Cabin Pol 2 / VLBI IF in VD Synthesizer VD Synthesizer 0.5 m RG-223-U1 N-F / BNC locking B Cabin Synth 1 Not done July 2016, reuse from A-Cabin Test tone synthesizer Test tone synthesizer 0.5 m RG-223-U1 N-F / BNC locking B Cabin Synth 2 Not done July 2016, reuse from A-Cabin IF Conditioning B Cabin DBBC3 0-14 GHz in 0.45 m RG-142 SMA / SMA 2 of DBBC3 0-4 GHz out IF Conditioning B Cabin 0.45 m RG-142 SMA / SMA 2 of IF Conditioning B Cabin DBBC3 0-4 GHz in 0.45 m RG-142 SMA / SMA 2 of BDC R2DBE IF in 0.45 m RG-142 SMA / SMA 2 of Fibre Cable InstCntr Recorder room 100 m 24 core OM3 LC/LC Patch DBBC3 2 m Duplex multi-mode OM4 LC/LC 7 of Patch Recorders 5 m Duplex multi-mode OM4 LC/LC 6 of Connectors
10 MHz Patch InstCntr 10 MHz ref cables LMR-200-UF N 6 required + 3 spare Panel-mount Patch InstCnt N-F / N-F 6 of H&S 37_N-50-0-1/133_NE Farnell Nr. 2473824
VLBI@APEX: Work List for APEX Observing Visit July 2016 Sequitor Observer account setup / source catalogue setup / schedule setup Install Falcke s + Tom Folker s remote monitoring software on Mark 6 6.6 h Write client to collect monitor data for remote monitoring Find coax cable shipment from Scott Cables in lab (Cantzler email 03.06.2016) Find Effekta MH1000 UPS that was unloaded from return shipment Aug 2015 0. Discuss with Thomas Klein APEX-SPT test 2017 last week Jan first week Feb Coherence test unit: bypass 20 db gain? Check level with IF conditioning unit Check in modules in Track WVR logging script from Dirk Muders 30.06.2016: install/test/run during VLBI Tsys measurement test for Vincent: how often is it needed for eg 1 % accuracy? Structure function? Annex Restart maser Debug itools connection to Eurotherm regulator Update configuration in HVAC regulator for minimum compressor runtime Replace water level sensor in one tank (low priority) Check water level in HVAC / refill. APEX staff routine maintenance? Prepare faulty UPS MH 1000 from HVAC / for return shipping Replace batteries in UPS (MH 700) 13.0 h 3 h 3 h A Cabin Install IF amp, check power level+slope in instrument container, remove IF amp. 2.0 h B Cabin Lay 3x maser 10 MHz cables from instrument container to B cabin Identify 2 available IF cables B-cabin to Instrument Container Install power splitters in PI230 IF / patch into facility IF processor + IF cables 10.7 h 6 h
Connect 10 MHz from maser to PI230 VDI synth Connect 10 MHz from maser to tone generator synth (Agilent from CHAMP?) Set up tone injection for coherence test Set synthesizer frequencies for coherence test Check IF power level and find tone Set up quarter-wave plate in PI230 carrier 1.0 h 0. 0. Instrument Container 46.0 h Carry to site: DBBC3, IF conditioning unit, R2DBE, Synthesizer module, BDC, noise box, 10 MHz distributor, spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, Fluke 6060A synth, cables, RF adaptors, toolkit Install 100 m 24-core fibre cable instrument container to recorders Mount fibre breakout boxes in rack and recorder room Cut maser 10 MHz cables (3x), install 6x N connectors, install patch panel Lay IF cables from XFFTS rack to VLBI rack 5 Install GPS antenna for DBBC3 on external railing Mount DBBC3 in rack, connect Re-configure DBBC3 network settings Mount IF conditioning unit in rack, connect Mount R2DBE in rack, connect Mount BDC in rack, connect Install Valon synthesizer for R2DBE Mount Fluke 6060A synthesizer in rack Check signals present on 1 PPS, 10 MHz, IF. Connect PIN diode switch in IF to DBBC + R2DBE Connect PI230 IF to DBBC3 + R2DBE, check IF power level & slope, equalization Coherence test of PI230 Switch on and test DBBC3 Switch on and test R2DBE 3 h
Mechanical Workshop 24.5 h Carry to site: 2x Mark 6 recorders+expansion chassis, modules, monitor, keyboard, cables Mount recorders in rack Connect cables Configuration of Mark 6 recorders Software installation on Mark 6 (eg jive5ab, Field System, analysis utilities) Test recordings on Mark 6 3 h System Test Work through Pre-Experiment Setup checklist at end of Project Book (exclude recorder pressurization test) Make zero-baseline test recording on system noise + tone, write 4 threads into 1 26 h R2DBE threads number 1 2 3 4 not 1 2 1 2 for pol1 pol2 for sorting at correlator Correlate / analyze data quality. Sample data to Bonn correlator (Alessandra) Measure maser rate Declare readiness for observing. Observe Observe 1x 5 h (July 12 (UT day) 20 to 01 LST + 1x setup gather DBBC3 data for transport 9 h 7 h (4 elapsed) Post-Observation Work through parts of Post-Experiment Shutdown checklist at end of Project Book: Remove quarter-wave plate, drain recorder pressure housing?, open door, switch off everything / store UPS. Photos for final state docs Cleanup 15.5 h Write README file on each module identifying APEX - DBBC3/R2DBE - Pol - Module in group time experiment, in filename so apparent with ls Prepare return shipping: modules, spare parts kit of DBBC(?) Pack Effekta MH 1000 for repair Check out modules in Track
Inform Frau Fingas of return shipment Work time pre-observing: Work time including observing: Total time (work time is 60 % of total, breaks and problems 40 %) Three people -> 10.6 days real time 128. 153.3 h 255.5 h = 31.9 days