Context:
Astronomers are looking forward to opening a new window on the universe by posting high-resolution telescopes on the moon, and in orbit around it, including one from India called PRATUSH.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
PRATUSH Telescope Overview
Project Name and Objective
- Name: Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen (PRATUSH) Telescope
- Objective: PRATUSH aims to investigate the reionization era of the universe by capturing signals from hydrogen, shedding light on the early stages of cosmic evolution.
Development and Collaboration
- Lead Institution: The telescope is being constructed by the Raman Research Institute (RRI) located in Bengaluru.
- Collaboration: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is actively collaborating with RRI in the development and launch of PRATUSH.
Launch Plan
- Initial Phase: ISRO will first position PRATUSH into an orbit around the Earth for initial adjustments and fine-tuning.
- Final Destination: After the necessary calibrations, ISRO plans to launch PRATUSH towards the moon to be stationed on its far side.
Primary Roles and Objectives
- Signal Detection: PRATUSH is designed to detect signals emitted by the first stars and galaxies, offering insights into the cosmic dawn phase of the universe.
- Key Questions: It aims to answer fundamental questions such as when the first stars formed, the characteristics of these early stars, and the nature of the light emitted by them.
Technical Specifications
- Antenna: PRATUSH will feature a wideband frequency-independent antenna capable of capturing a broad range of signals.
- Receiver: The telescope will be equipped with a self-calibrating analog receiver to enhance signal detection accuracy.
- Correlator: A digital correlator will be integrated into the system to analyze and interpret radio noise, particularly focusing on signals from the Dark Ages of the universe.
- Sensitivity: The target sensitivity of PRATUSH is set at a few millikelvin, aiming to achieve high precision in signal detection without being constrained by systematic features.
-Source: The Hindu
