Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2888
Date of Award
8-2024
Degree Name
MS in Electrical Engineering
Department/Program
Electrical Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Dean Arakaki
Advisor Department
Electrical Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
The Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G) is a multidisciplinary, multinational collaboration which uses antennas to detect neutrino interactions with arctic ice sheets. Neutrinos are formed from nuclear reactions; predominant sources include nuclear reactors, stars, supernovae, and the big bang. They rarely interact with normal matter and thus travel from origin to destination relatively unimpeded, with applications including tracking nuclear weapons tests and supernovae. Measurements of galactic neutrino flux can provide information about how the universe developed and its current evolution. Neutrino interactions produce signals from 100 to 1000MHz. Current RNO-G antennas operate over only a portion of this band; 200MHz for horizontally polarized (Hpol) and 400MHz for vertically polarized (Vpol). In this thesis, multiple lengths of Hpol antennas are combined, and exponentially tapered geometry is added to the Vpol antenna to improve performance. Both polarizations are combined into one structure to improve observatory performance. This thesis details the design, fabrication, and testing of a new RNO-G antenna iteration. Each design is compared to frequency, gain, matching, and size requirements. Two variations of the final design are fabricated and tested, with performance compared to simulation.