OVSA Experience of Relevance to FASR
Frequency-Agile Interferometry

Outline of Talk
Quick Overview of OVSA
Multi-frequency calibration
Simplifications
Complications
Conclusions

Quick Overview of OVSA
7 Antennas
2 large (27 m)
5 small (2 m)
Frequency Agile
Tune in any sequence to any of 86 frequencies in range 1-18 GHz
10 ms sample time (takes 8 s to tune to 40 frequencies in each of RCP and LCP)

Slide 4

Outline of Talk
Quick Overview of OVSA
Multi-frequency calibration
Simplifications
Complications
Conclusions

Multi-frequency Calibration
The system phase on each individual baseline is random with frequency

Multi-frequency Calibration II
However, the difference in phase for a given baseline, from one time to the next, follows a linear frequency dependence.

Outline of Talk
Quick Overview of OVSA
Multi-frequency calibration
Simplifications
Complications
Conclusions

Slide 9

OVSA Example
Calibrate once
every 2 hours
Ref calibration

Outline of Talk
Quick Overview of OVSA
Multi-frequency calibration
Simplifications
Complications
Conclusions

Slide 12

Slide 13

Outline of Talk
Quick Overview of OVSA
Multi-frequency calibration
Simplifications
Complications
Conclusions

Conclusions for FASR
Take advantage of the smoothness of most frequency-dependent phase changes.
Expect phase changes ~f  for atmosphere and cables, ~f -2 for the ionosphere.  Frequency-independent phase offsets are also possible.
Lobe ambiguities need not be a driver for time between phase calibrations (although linearity of phase changes will be).
Care must be taken to calibrate frequency-to-frequency amplitudes (self-cal is no help).