Dual frequency 230/690 GHz interferometry at the Submillimeter Array

Abstract

The Submillimeter Array (SMA), a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Academica Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Taiwan, is an eight-element radio-interferometer designed to operate throughout the major atmospheric windows from about 180 to 900 GHz. In an effort to mitigate the effects of atmospheric instabilities which limit the phase coherence of the array especially in the higher frequency bands, the array was designed to allow simultaneous operation of a low frequency receiver (<350 GHz) with a high frequency receiver (>330 GHz). The overlap region of 330-350 GHz was included to facilitate dual polarization measurements in the frequency range considered to offer the highest sensitivity for continuum observations with the array. So far, the array is equipped with working SIS receivers covering the frequency ranges 176-256 GHz, 260-350 GHz, and 600-700 GHz, and single frequency operation has been routine in the lower two frequency bands for the past year. More recently, with the completion of IF hardware required to make full use of the SMA cross-correlator, dual receiver operation became possible. We have since made a number of Galactic and extra-galactic astronomical observations in dual-band mode with the hopes of using the 230 GHz receiver as a phase reference to enable improved interferometry in the 650 GHz band. We will present the current antenna and receiver performance, some of the first interferometric images in the 650 GHz receiver band, and our initial attempts at phase transfer.