12-antenna prototype of the Siberian Radioheliograph

S.V. Lesovoi, S.V. Zandanov, A.T. Altyntsev, E.F. Ivanov, A.V. Gubin, A.I. Maslov

Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lermontov st.126, Irkutsk 664033, Russia

There are a number of next generation radioheliographs large-scale projects. These radioheliographs are mainly dedicated to measure coronal magnetic fields, determine flare energy release sites and explore coronal mass ejections. Such tasks lead to high requirements on parameters of next generation radioheloographs. In short, we need a high spatial resolution, a high cadence and a high sensitivity in a wide frequency range. The upgrade of Siberian Solar Radiotelescope to broadband radioheliograph was begun. Expected parameters of the radioheliograph: spatial resolution - 12$^\prime$$^\prime$-24$^\prime$$^\prime$, temporal resolution - 0.1 c, sensitivity - 100 K and frequency range - 4-8 GHz. In 2008 we plan to mount and test the 12-antenna radioheliograph prototype. Here we present the description of a broadband antenna, a front-end, an analog microwave fiber-optic link and a back-end used in this prototype. This study was supported by Russian projects of RFBR No. 05-07-90147, 06-02-16295 and the Program of RAN No. 16.