“It’s something unique. I had worked in laboratories before, but not handling this type of device with this level of sensitivity. I am aware that we are in the spotlight because Band 1 is what people are talking about”, says José.
The receiver is capable of “reading” a longer wavelength, which will make it possible to observe even when conditions are not optimal at Chajnantor. In addition, not all the observatories with which we collaborate work at high frequencies, so it will facilitate joint observations as occurs in Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI).
“The challenge is to be aware that we are handling devices of high technological value and they are limited devices”, emphasizes José, who is in charge of reviewing the 70 instruments coming from our Taiwanese suppliers and, when they pass the tests, integrating them to the Front End.
There are already 30 Band 1 receivers tested and certified by the scientific team for use. In other words, to reach the goal of the end of September, only 20 bands are missing and are currently in the integration stage.
However, time is short. “We work at a rate of approximately two units per month, we do not manage to do much more. We have to wait for the natural maintenance cycle of the cryostats and also the maintenance of the antenna. That’s why it takes so much time”, explains Massimiliano Marchesi, head of AMG.
The difficulties
This is the fifth band to be integrated locally, so the process is already well known. However, after the pandemic, the number of personnel authorized to work decreased, and more recent mishaps, such as the cyber-attack, complicated the flow of operations.
“We could do the physical work, use the instruments that are there, but some things in the database could not be accessed, and that gave us a stoppage of about a month and a half”, says Massimiliano.
An ongoing process
While the delivery of Band 1 is being completed, work has already begun on the last pending receiver: Band 2. In a little more than a couple of years, they should be ready for cycle 12.
In addition, each band is expected to be upgraded in the future, as part of the ALMA 2030 project. “The minimum number of bands is surely going to be reached. It has been a super experience in personal terms. We work with very delicate prototypes but we also have to comply with an almost industrial work cycle. And we are all very committed to these challenges”, concludes Massimiliano.
Un grande José y todo el equipo que trabaja en laboratorio en las distintas labores! Un cordial saludo para todos!