<p>This can actually mean a couple of different things, but in the case of steering an MWA tile, Jeremy is quite correct. Each tile has a 'beamformer' box that all of the individual antenna cables plug into. This box physically delays each signal appropriately (by having a longer path to go through for more delay) based on the signals sent to it for each pointing. Because of the quantised path lengths there are what are called 'sweet spots' that are used, in other words arbitrary pointings don't normally happen you just dial in the closest 'sweet spot' to where you'd like to point.</p>

<p>There are also version that do this in software (and in fact in a special phased mode the MWA does this between tiles sometimes), where 'turns of phase' are used instead but it is essentially the same idea.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-04T02:23:05.237Z
2014-04-04T02:23:05.237Z
QuantumSwordsman
<p>Check out the <a href="http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0903/0903.1828.pdf" rel="nofollow">Design Overview</a> and the <a href="http://www.mwatelescope.org/index.php/telescope/antenna-beamformer" rel="nofollow">Antenna/Beamformer page</a> on the MWA website.</p>

<p>The basic idea is that the signal arriving at an antenna is delayed in the circuitry, which makes it seem to the processing engine like the tile is being tilted in a particular direction.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-01T20:46:14.573Z
2014-04-01T20:51:43.077Z
2014-04-01T20:51:43.077Z
Jeremy
<p>I recently came across an article about the Murchison Wide Field Array which said directivity is achieved by Electronic Beam Steering and not by Mechanical methods. It would be helpful if someone can tell me: how do they achieve it?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-01T20:49:35.973Z
Could you link the article?
Jeremy
<telescope><radio-astronomy>
What is meant by Electronic Beam Steering and how is it achieved?
Vivek V K
# What is meant by Electronic Beam Steering and how is it achieved?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-01)

I recently came across an article about the Murchison Wide Field Array which said directivity is achieved by Electronic Beam Steering and not by Mechanical methods. It would be helpful if someone can tell me: how do they achieve it?

**Tags:** telescope, radio-astronomy

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could you link the article?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-04-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

This can actually mean a couple of different things, but in the case of steering an MWA tile, username_1 is quite correct. Each tile has a 'beamformer' box that all of the individual antenna cables plug into. This box physically delays each signal appropriately (by having a longer path to go through for more delay) based on the signals sent to it for each pointing. Because of the quantised path lengths there are what are called 'sweet spots' that are used, in other words arbitrary pointings don't normally happen you just dial in the closest 'sweet spot' to where you'd like to point.

There are also version that do this in software (and in fact in a special phased mode the MWA does this between tiles sometimes), where 'turns of phase' are used instead but it is essentially the same idea.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-01. Score: 1

Check out the [Design Overview](http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0903/0903.1828.pdf) and the [Antenna/Beamformer page](http://www.mwatelescope.org/index.php/telescope/antenna-beamformer) on the MWA website.

The basic idea is that the signal arriving at an antenna is delayed in the circuitry, which makes it seem to the processing engine like the tile is being tilted in a particular direction.


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