original German Story

Handychip verbessert Blick ins All


and a babelfish translation

Astrophysicists of the University of Bonn developed a new spectrometer, which could revolutionize radio astronomy. They used for it special computer chips, which are used for example also in the portable radio technology. The spectrometer is substantially more sensitive and faster than conventional models, uses less energy, costs a tenth however only approximately. First tests of the equipment at the 100-Meter-Radioteleskop in Effelsberg already successfully ran.
Effelsberg radio telescope

The 100-Meter-Radioteleskop with bath Münstereifel Effelsberg. Picture: Institute for Max-Planck for radio astronomy

The new of Bonn spectrometers is so small compared with its ancestor. Dr. Stephan Stanko (right) of radio-astronomical Institut and his colleague Bernd small from the institute for Max-Planck for radio astronomy before the old Effelsberger spectrometer, which fills a whole cabinet, while the new fits into a hand. Photo: University of Bonn

Radio spectrometers function similarly in principle as a prism, which divides light into its basic colours. In contrast to it subjects it however radio signals up, how it receives for example the telescope in Effelsberg with its 100-Meter-Parabolantenne. Thus for example gas clouds in the universe send characteristic Radiowellen, emission lines so mentioned. “Depending upon composition of the cloud completely determined frequencies” are in such a way, explain Dr. Jürgen Kerp in the received signal. “An example is the famous hydrogen line: Hydrogen emits waves of 21 centimeters of length; here one sees a salient signal in the spectrum therefore.” Spectrometers can make therefore cold (and thus darken) gas clouds visible by their radio spectrum and give in such a way referring to the composition of far worlds.

Dr. Kerp and Dr. Stephan Stanko of radio-astronomical Institut developed the new spectrometer as well as her colleague Bernd small from the institute for Max-Planck for radio astronomy. The astrophysicists fell back to construction units, which are already regularly used in the portable radio: the Field in such a way specified Programmable gate array, briefly FPGAs. “Those are special high-speed chips, which we program in such a way that they can divide radio signals spectrally”, so Dr. Kerp. A putting in map with a such FPGA spectrometer is hardly larger than a palm. Besides it costs less than 10,000 euro, since the portable radio chips in high number of items are produced. “Conventional devices are to be received against it only for a multiple and take a whole cabinet”, stress the private lecturer.

In the field use the size brings problems with itself. Besides spectrometers from the old impact to 1000fach more river devour. Radio telescopes are located however frequently in inhospitable areas in large height, where the terrestrial atmosphere disturbs the receipt as little as possible - there the river does not come from the plug socket. “The power supply is so far frequently a problem”, like that Kerp; “our spectrometer uses against it still less than a PC.”

In August the scientists of the radio-astronomical institute could for the first time test a FPGA spectrometer at the 100-Meter-Radioteleskop in Effelsberg - a world premiere. Starting from autumn 2005 14 of the new devices is to be used there. “The quality of the observation data exceeds those of the spectrometers used so far by far” schwärmt Jürgen Kerp; “the method has an enormous Potenzial!” Besides the maps are so “terribly fast” the fact that one can accomplish thereby three different measurements at the same time - with average operating cost of a radio telescope of some thousand euro per hour no bad argument for one transferred.

The industry must however still reorient one's opinion: “So far there are world-wide only three groups, which work on FPGA spectrometers - beside us still one in the USA and one in Australia. The remainder sets on the proven technology.” The time plays however for the Bonn ones: “The chips process 800 megabyte at data per second - far more, than today is in most cases necessary. With future radio telescopes the data flood will increase however clearly. There one will not come probably at all around FPGA spectrometers around.”

Greetings from Germany NRW
Ulli S@h Berkeley's Staff Friends Club m7 ©

Another interesting and educational post from the Knight of Knowledge. :->
As always, thank you, Sir Ulli.
Robert

---