Dr. David Rabanus Profile

Dr. David Rabanus

ALMA Instrument Group Manager at ALMA

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Author

Publications (19)

Proceedings Article | 19 July 2016 Paper

Analysis of antenna position measurements and weather station network data during the ALMA long baseline campaign of 2015

Todd Hunter, Robert Lucas, Dominique Broguière, Ed Fomalont, William R. Dent, Neil Phillips, David Rabanus, Catherine Vlahakis

Proceedings Volume 9914, 99142L (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232585

KEYWORDS: Antennas, Radiometry, Data modeling, Interferometers, Calibration, Humidity, Oxygen, Observatories, Temperature metrology, Sensors

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In a radio interferometer, the geometrical antenna positions are determined from measurements of the observed delay to each antenna from observations across the sky of many point sources whose positions are known to high accuracy. The determination of accurate antenna positions relies on accurate calibration of the dry and wet delay of the atmosphere above each antenna. For the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), with baseline lengths up to 15 kilometers, the geography of the site forces the height above mean sea level of the more distant antenna pads to be significantly lower than the central array. Thus, both the ground level meteorological values and the total water column can be quite different between antennas in the extended configurations. During 2015, a network of six additional weather stations was installed to monitor pressure, temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity, in order to test whether inclusion of these parameters could improve the repeatability of antenna position determinations in these configurations. We present an analysis of the data obtained during the ALMA Long Baseline Campaign of October through November 2015. The repeatability of antenna position measurements typically degrades as a function of antenna distance. Also, the scatter is more than three times worse in the vertical direction than in the local tangent plane, suggesting that a systematic effect is limiting the measurements. So far we have explored correcting the delay model for deviations from hydrostatic equilibrium in the measured air pressure and separating the partial pressure of water from the total pressure using water vapor radiometer (WVR) data. Correcting for these combined effects still does not provide a good match to the residual position errors in the vertical direction. One hypothesis is that the current model of water vapor may be too simple to fully remove the day-to-day variations in the wet delay. We describe possible new avenues of improvement, which include recalibrating the baseline measurement datasets using the contemporaneous measurements of the water vapor scale height and temperature lapse rate from the oxygen sounder, and applying more accurate measurements of the sky coupling of the WVRs.

Proceedings Article | 7 August 2014 Paper

Tiers of the maintenance concept at ALMA in operations

David Rabanus

Proceedings Volume 9149, 91491C (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056517

KEYWORDS: Observatories, Adaptive optics, Hypoxia, Oxygen, Phase modulation, Safety, Diagnostics, Chemical elements, Curium, Manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 5 October 2012 Paper

Development of the test interferometer for ALMA

R. Olguin, T. Shen, R. Brito, A. Saez, R. Soto, S. Asayama, C. Follert, L. Knee, A. Quintana, D. Rabanus, E. Reynolds, N. Saez, J. Sepulveda

Proceedings Volume 8452, 84522A (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925244

KEYWORDS: Optical correlators, Antennas, Adaptive optics, Interferometers, Oscillators, Solar thermal energy, Interferometry, Computing systems, Control systems, Observatories

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Proceedings Article | 25 September 2012 Paper

Observatory facility staff requirements and local labor markets

David Rabanus

Proceedings Volume 8449, 84490J (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925440

KEYWORDS: Observatories, Astronomy, Pollution, Astronomical imaging, Radio optics, Infrared astronomy, Neodymium, Electromagnetism, Reliability, Magnetism

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Proceedings Article | 7 August 2010 Paper

Measuring and forecasting of PWV above La Silla, APEX, and Paranal Observatories

A. Chacón, O. Cuevas, D. Pozo, J. Marín, A. Oyanadel, C. Dougnac, L. Cortes, L. Illanes, M. Caneo, M. Curé, M. Sarazin, F. Kerber, A. Smette, D. Rabanus, R. Querel, G. Tompkins

Proceedings Volume 7733, 77334K (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857542

KEYWORDS: Observatories, Atmospheric modeling, Data modeling, Lanthanum, Error analysis, Meteorology, Satellites, Humidity, Astronomy, Satellite imaging

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Proceedings Article | 5 August 2010 Paper

Support for site testing of the European Extremely Large Telescope: precipitable water vapor over Paranal

Florian Kerber, Richard Querel, Reinhard Hanuschik, Arlette Chacón, Marta Caneo, Lissette Cortes, Michel Cure, Lizett Illanes, David Naylor, Alain Smette, Marc Sarazin, David Rabanus, Gregory Tompkins

Proceedings Volume 7733, 77331M (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856390

KEYWORDS: Observatories, Atmospheric modeling, Satellites, Lanthanum, Radiometry, Earth's atmosphere, Infrared telescopes, Astronomy, Spectroscopy, Data modeling

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In support of characterization of potential sites for the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS) and the astrometeorology group of the Universidad Valparaiso have jointly established an improved understanding of atmospheric precipitable water vapour (PWV) above ESO's La Silla Paranal Observatory. In a first step, 8 years worth of high resolution near-IR spectra taken with VLT-UVES have been statistically analysed to reconstruct the PWV history above Paranal. To this end a radiative transfer model of Earth's atmosphere (BTRAM) developed by ISIS has been used. A median PWV of 2.1 mm is found for Paranal based on UVES data covering the period 2001-2008. Furthermore we conclude that Paranal can serve as a reference site for Northern Chile due to the stable atmospheric conditions in the region. The median offset between Paranal and Armazones is derived to be 0.3 mm, but local arbitrary variations of a few tenths of a mm between the sites have been found by measurement. In order to better understand the systematics involved two dedicated campaigns were conducted in August and November 2009. Several methods for determining the water column were employed, including radiosonde launches, continuous measurements by infrared radiometer, and VLT instruments operating at various wavelengths: CRIRES, UVES, VISIR and X-shooter. In a first for astronomical instruments all methods have been evaluated with respect to the radiosondes, the established standard in atmospheric research. Agreement between the radiosondes and the IR radiometer (IRMA) is excellent while all other astronomical methods covering a wavelength range from 700 - 20000 nm have also been successfully validated in a quantitative manner. All available observations were compared to satellite estimates of water vapour above the observatory in an attempt to ground-truth the satellite data. GOES can successfully be used for site evaluation in a purely statistical approach since agreement with the radiosondes is very good on average. For use as an operational tool at an observatory GOES data are much less suited because of significant deviations depending on atmospheric conditions. We propose to routinely monitor PWV at the VLT and to use it as an operational constraint to guide scheduling of IR observations at Paranal. For the E-ELT we find that a stand-alone high time resolution PWV monitor will be essential for optimizing the scientific output.

Proceedings Article | 30 July 2010 Paper

APEX: five years of operations

Andreas Lundgren, David Rabanus, Rolf Güsten, Karl Menten, Tim de Zeeuw, Hans Olofsson, Andreas Kaufer, Lars-Åke Nyman, Per Bergman, Carlos de Breuck, Friedrich Wyrowski, Claudio Agurto, Francisco Azagra, Michael Dumke, Felipe Mac-Auliffe, Mauricio Martinez, Francisco Montenegro, Dirk Muders, Vincent Reveret, Christophe Risacher, Rodrigo Parra, Giorgio Siringo, Gundolf Wieching

Proceedings Volume 7737, 773708 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856985

KEYWORDS: Receivers, Telescopes, Heterodyning, Bolometers, Antennas, Space telescopes, Observatories, Astronomy, Holography, Humidity

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 2010 Paper

Status of the ArTeMiS camera to be installed on APEX

M. Talvard, P. André, Y. Le-Pennec, E. Doumayrou, D. Dubreuil, M. Lortholary, J. Martignac, C. De Breuck, D. Rabanus, P. Agnèse, O. Boulade, E. Ercolani, P. Gallais, B. Horeau, P. O. Lagage, B. Leriche, J. Relland, V. Revéret, L. Rodriguez

Proceedings Volume 7741, 77410D (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856437

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Telescopes, Bolometers, Mirrors, Sensors, Control systems, Distortion, Aluminum, Cryogenics, Optical alignment

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Proceedings Article | 19 July 2008 Paper

Submillimeter heterodyne arrays for APEX

R. Güsten, A. Baryshev, A. Bell, A. Belloche, U. Graf, H. Hafok, S. Heyminck, S. Hochgürtel, C. Honingh, K. Jacobs, C. Kasemann, B. Klein, T. Klein, A. Korn, I. Krämer, C. Leinz, A. Lundgren, K. Menten, K. Meyer, D. Muders, F. Pacek, D. Rabanus, F. Schäfer, P. Schilke, G. Schneider, J. Stutzki, G. Wieching, A. Wunsch, F. Wyrowski

Proceedings Volume 7020, 702010 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788271

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Receivers, Heterodyning, Spectrometers, Raster graphics, Calibration, Sensors, Field programmable gate arrays, Atmospheric optics, Optical filters

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Proceedings Article | 18 July 2008 Paper

Recent results obtained on the APEX 12 m antenna with the ArTeMiS prototype camera

M. Talvard, P. André, L. Rodriguez, Y. Le-Pennec, C. De Breuck, V. Revéret, P. Agnèse, O. Boulade, E. Doumayrou, D. Dubreuil, E. Ercolani, P. Gallais, B. Horeau, PO Lagage, B. Leriche, M. Lortholary, J. Martignac, V. Minier, E. Pantin, D. Rabanus, J. Relland, G. Willmann

Proceedings Volume 7020, 70200A (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788197

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Sensors, Telescopes, Electronics, Bolometers, Prototyping, Space telescopes, Cryogenics, Mirrors, Antennas

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Proceedings Article | 26 September 2007 Paper

GREAT: the German first light heterodyne instrument for SOFIA

Urs Graf, Stefan Heyminck, Rolf Güsten, Paul Hartogh, Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers, Jürgen Stutzki, Jérôme Faist, Milan Fischer, Karl Jacobs, Martin Philipp, David Rabanus, Alexej Semenov, Peter van der Wal, Armin Wagner-Gentner, Christoph Walther, Martina Wiedner

Proceedings Volume 6678, 66780K (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.768027

KEYWORDS: Terahertz radiation, Receivers, Quantum cascade lasers, Oscillators, Heterodyning, Spectrometers, Electronics, Spectral resolution, Photography, Observatories

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Proceedings Article | 27 June 2006 Paper

GREAT: the German first light heterodyne instrument for SOFIA

Urs Graf, Stefan Heyminck, Rolf Güsten, Paul Hartogh, Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers, Karl Jacobs, Martin Philipp, David Rabanus, Hans-Peter Röser, Jürgen Stutzki, Peter van der Wal, Armin Wagner-Gentner

Proceedings Volume 6275, 62750K (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.673168

KEYWORDS: Terahertz radiation, Receivers, Oscillators, Heterodyning, Spectrometers, Spectral resolution, Astronomy, Photography, Bolometers, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 8 October 2004 Paper

Cryogenic design of KOSMA's SOFIA terahertz array receiver (STAR)

David Rabanus, Urs Graf, Martin Philipp, Jurgen Stutzki, Armin Wagner-Gentner

Proceedings Volume 5498, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551311

KEYWORDS: Stars, Receivers, Oscillators, Cryogenics, Terahertz radiation, Telescopes, Heterodyning, Integrated optics, Multiplexing, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 8 October 2004 Paper

GREAT optics

Armin Wagner-Gentner, Urs Graf, Martin Philipp, David Rabanus, Jurgen Stutzki

Proceedings Volume 5498, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551236

KEYWORDS: Receivers, Optics manufacturing, Mirrors, Telescopes, Integrated optics, Terahertz radiation, Off axis mirrors, Optical testing, Beam splitters, Optical alignment

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Proceedings Article | 3 March 2003 Paper

STAR: SOFIA terahertz array receiver

Urs Graf, Stefan Heyminck, D. Rabanus, Karl Jacobs, Rudolf Schieder, Juergen Stutzki

Proceedings Volume 4857, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458821

KEYWORDS: Receivers, Stars, Oscillators, Integrated optics, Polarization, Mirrors, Terahertz radiation, Beam splitters, Bolometers, Heterodyning

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Proceedings Article | 20 June 2000 Paper

16x24 germanium photoconductor array for AIRES

Jessie Dotson, Edwin Erickson, Michael Haas, David Rabanus, James Baltz

Proceedings Volume 4014, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.389094

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Information operations, Prototyping, Spectroscopy, Germanium, Photoresistors, Infrared spectroscopy, Signal to noise ratio, Sensor performance, Electronics

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Proceedings Article | 20 June 2000 Paper

Design and assembly of a stressed Ge:Ga photoconductor array for AIRES

David Rabanus, Jessie Dotson, Edwin Erickson, Juergen Wolf

Proceedings Volume 4014, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.389095

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Resistance, Crystals, Signal detection, Photoresistors, Capacitance, Cryogenics, Mirrors, Infrared spectroscopy, Far infrared

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Proceedings Article | 21 August 1998 Paper

SPICA: a spectral-photometric infrared camera for SOFIA

Juergen Wolf, Josef Schubert, H. Anheyer, Hans Driescher, Kevin Hanna, Stefan Kirches, E. Paul, David Rabanus, K. Roesner, Alfred Krabbe

Proceedings Volume 3354, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317298

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Detector arrays, Telescopes, Electronics, Spectroscopy, Mirrors, Cryogenics, Infrared cameras, Infrared astronomy, Diffraction

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Proceedings Article | 8 April 1998 Paper

Photoconductor arrays for a spectral-photometric far-infrared camera on SOFIA

Juergen Wolf, Hans Driescher, Josef Schubert, David Rabanus, E. Paul, K. Roesner

Proceedings Volume 3287, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.304490

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Infrared astronomy, Detector arrays, Electronics, Germanium, Infrared radiation, Cameras, Observatories

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Showing 5 of 19 publications

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