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Why is the Very Large Array Y-Shaped?

-- | May 15, 2012

Question: Why is The Very Large Array Y-shaped, not triangular or of other shapes? — Tom

Answer: There are several reasons why the antennas that make-up the Very Large Array (VLA) are arranged in a Y-configuration. The Y-configuration produces a nearly circular resolution element (“synthesized beam” in radio astronomy parlance) on the sky for a variety of integration times and for most positions on the sky. Also, a Y-configuration is the most efficient arrangement of antennas which need to be connected to a central power and communication center. Finally, the Y-configuration makes it possible to expand and contract the array to allow for a variety of spatial resolution sizes (“synthesized beam sizes” in radio astronomy parlance) on the sky.

Jeff Mangum

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