TECHNICAL ASPECTS FOR THE SQUARE KILOMETER ARRAY

One way to realize a large collecting area for a next generation of radiotelescopes is by means of a tile structure of flat receiving panels [1,2]. Contrasting most of the present generation of mechanically driven parabolic reflectors, the radiosource in this concept is followed electronically. The system as a whole, together with the appropriate electronic combination of received signals, can then be configured as an adaptive phased array antenna. Variations of this theme are possible as well. For example, separating the aperture distribution from the effective receiving equipment, may result in a reflect-array.