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Absolute flux density calibrations of radio sources: 2.3 GHzA detailed description of a NASA/JPL Deep Space Network program to improve S-band gain calibrations of large aperture antennas is reported. The program is considered unique in at least three ways; first, absolute gain calibrations of high quality suppressed-sidelobe dual mode horns first provide a high accuracy foundation to the foundation to the program. Second, a very careful transfer calibration technique using an artificial far-field coherent-wave source was used to accurately obtain the gain of one large (26 m) aperture. Third, using the calibrated large aperture directly, the absolute flux density of five selected galactic and extragalactic natural radio sources was determined with an absolute accuracy better than 2 percent, now quoted at the familiar 1 sigma confidence level. The follow-on considerations to apply these results to an operational network of ground antennas are discussed. It is concluded that absolute gain accuracies within + or - 0.30 to 0.40 db are possible, depending primarily on the repeatability (scatter) in the field data from Deep Space Network user stations.
Document ID
19780012447
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Freiley, A. J. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Batelaan, P. D. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bathker, D. A. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 3, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1977
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Report/Patent Number
JPL-TM-33-806
NASA-CR-156132
Accession Number
78N20390
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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