Development of microwave and radio astronomical instrumentation as well as deployment and operation of novel observing facilities
The Long Wavelength Lab is a world-class facility for developing the breakthrough instrumentation required for major astrophysical projects ranging from the South Pole Telescope (SPT) to the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME).
We host a cutting-edge low-noise cryogenic test bed for ultra-sensitive broadband mm-wave detectors used on SPT.
The lab can boast of considerable expertise in radio signal processing, having designed and having on hand the two largest radio correlators in use today. We develop advanced processing algorithms, ranging from novel beam-forming techniques to real-time RFI mitigation.
Prototype and one-off radio feeds and receiver chains have been built and assembled in the lab, and have been deployed at the Algonquin Radio Observatory north of Toronto and as part of the HIRAX telescope in South Africa’s Karoo desert.
- Baseband Radio signal recording & processing
- Cryogenic mm-wave detector characterization
- Radio feed & analog component prototyping
- Astrophysical instrumentation systems integration
- Aerospace and satellites
- Defence and security industries
- Information and communication technologies and media
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator Cryogenic Testing Environment | Testing mm-wave components in sub-kelvin cryogenic environment |
| GPU Radio Correlator Prototype | High-throughput, many-input radio signal correlator. Test bed for advanced algorithms and technologies. |