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ARA Wideband Surface Antennas

This project focuses on developing efficient wideband surface antennas to detect UHE neutrinos using radio frequencies near the South Pole. The antennas serve as ARA2 and ARA3 requirements, operating from 25MHz to 1000MHz, easy to assemble, and mass produce. Neutrinos passing through ice interact with atoms, emitting radio frequencies picked up by monitoring stations equipped with these antennas for data collection. Various antenna models, including spiral antennas, are tested and optimized for performance. Future plans involve using slot antennas for horizontally polarized signal detection. The project aims to enhance cosmic ray and neutrino detection capabilities.

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ARA Wideband Surface Antennas

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  1. ARA Wideband Surface Antennas By Thomas Boatright

  2. Purpose of Surface Antenna • To detect UHE neutrinos near South Pole using radio frequencies • Serve as ARA2 and ARA3 antennas • Requirements: • Function from 25Mhz-1000Mhz • Easy to assemble and mass produce

  3. How It Works • Neutrinos pass through the ice, some hit hydrogen or oxygen atoms. • This impact with atoms causes particles from the atoms to spray outward and emit radio frequencies • These radio waves bounce off of the water underneath the ice and travel back through the ice • These radio frequencies are then picked up by monitoring stations armed with our antennas and collect data on these emissions, allowing us to better understand neutrinos

  4. Original ARA1 DeathRay • A dipole where each half has six brass rods extend in a symmetrically hexagonal figure

  5. Nec SWR

  6. ARA2 & ARA3 DeathRays • Arms 2.4m, Conical pieces ~0.6m • Changes were made to allow easier assembly

  7. SWR Performance

  8. Anechoic Chamber SWR

  9. Performance at the Pole

  10. New Model! • Settled on a spiral antenna • 1.2m radius • Double arm • Stub Balun • Lower the frequency the bigger the spiral • Higher frequencies depend on the inner part of the antenna

  11. Nec Measurements without balun

  12. NecMeasurements with balun

  13. Test Model • Used almost a full turn of the original model • About a fourth the size as the original • Copper wire duct taped to a board • A hole is cut out of the board for the connector in the center

  14. Test Results

  15. Actual Spiral • Decided to use foam • Supper light weight • Easy to use and construct • Used a router to make a trench in foam • Laid copper wire in trench • Put a piece of plywood on top to protect antenna and give it some weight

  16. Second Mini-Spiral

  17. SWR

  18. Foam absorbing power? • Got another antenna to measure the loss when turning the antenna 90 degrees

  19. Future Plans • Spiral Antenna is being used in TARA project in Utah to detect cosmic rays

  20. More Plans • Currently slot antennas are being designed for ARA to detect horizontally polarized signals

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