Discovery Semiconductors Delivers Wide Bandwidth Optical Receivers For Allen Telescope Array

Ewing, NJ – Discovery Semiconductors, Inc., an American company manufacturing optical receivers up to 65 GHz, has delivered low distortion, fiber-coupled 15 GHz receivers for analog fiber optic antenna links. These receivers maintain flat RF response from DC to 11.2 GHz.

The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) – formerly known as the One Hectare Telescope (1hT) – is a joint effort by the SETI Institute and the Radio Astronomy Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley to construct a Radio Interferometer that will be dedicated to astronomical observations and simultaneous searches for extra-terrestrial signals.

Dr. David R. DeBoer, project manager for the ATA, explained, "The antennas receive dual polarizations, each at 0.5 – 11.2 GHz. The different polarizations each contain unique signals. The signals at the antenna are amplified and transmitted through a fiber optic cable to Discovery's optical receivers, which enables us to have different observers use different portions of the 0.5 – 11.2 GHz band simultaneously."

"The ATA is an exciting and unique project," said Mr. Jay Magbitang, Sales Engineer at Discovery Semiconductors, "and we are proud to be a part of it." Mr. Magbitang continued, "We have the opportunity to work with a great group of people at SETI, and look forward to supplying optical receivers for the next generation of Radio Telescopes."

SOURCE: Discovery Semiconductors