應用於BURSTT天線陣列的寬頻磁電偶極天線設計

Abstract

本論文介紹了用於快速電波暴（FRB）探測的磁電偶極天線（MED天線）的開發，該天線用於台灣宇宙電波爆廣角監測實驗（BURSTT）。BURSTT 提供約 100°×100° 的視野（FoV）和亞角秒的定位能力，以發現並定位大量高能量通量、近距離的 FRB。作為 BURSTT 的接收天線，MED 天線提供 80°×80° 的寬視角，寬頻帶（300-800 MHz），以及高增益（約 7 dBi），並具有緊湊的尺寸（45×45×17cm³）。我們設計了一個天線罩以罩住整個 MED 天線及其集成的射頻前端設備，形成一個模組化的射頻前端系統。這個模組化的系統為 BURSTT 計劃擴展到 2048 個通道提供了一個具成本效益且易於維護的解決方案，是熱帶地區天線陣列的理想選擇，能夠抵抗暴雨和颱風。該系統已成功部署於 BURSTT 南投外圍站的 64 個通道，並持續運行，驗證了該設計的可靠性。本論文介紹了 FRB 的現象學和 BURSTT 的目標，並討論了 MED 天線的原理、設計、製造、性能以及安裝。

This thesis presents the development of the Magneto-Electric Dipole (MED) antenna for Fast Radio Burst (FRB) detection, used in the Bustling Universe Radio Survey Telescope in Taiwan (BURSTT). BURSTT provides a Field of View (FoV) of approximately 100°×100° and a subarcsecond localization ability to discover and localize a large sample of high-fluence, nearby FRBs. The MED antenna, serving as the receiver antennas for BURSTT, offers a wide FoV of 80°×80°, wide bandwidth (300-800 MHz), and high gain (~7 dBi) within a compact size (45×45×17cm³). A radome is designed to enclose the entire MED antenna with integrated RF front-end electronics, forming a modularized RF front-end system. This modular system provides a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain solution for the planned expansion of BURSTT to 2048 channels, making it an ideal choice for antenna arrays in tropical regions, capable of withstanding heavy rains and typhoons. The system has been successfully deployed with 64 channels at the Nantou outrigger station of BURSTT and is under continuous operation, validating the reliability of this design. This thesis introduces the phenomenology of FRBs and the objectives of BURSTT, followed by discussions on the principles, design, fabrication, performance, and installation of the MED antenna.