ECCOSORB MF-117 Selected For ALMA Receiver Development Program

Randolph, MA -- Emerson & Cuming Microwave Products' ECCOSORB® MF-117, a magnetically loaded epoxy, was selected for a high frequency (84-116 GHz) waveguide termination used in the international Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), one of the largest ground-based astronomy projects of the next decade.

According to Mike Plante, Director of Sales and Marketing, "ECCOSORB MF-117 was chosen for its microwave absorber bandwidth and attenuation material characteristics. Additionally, there were specific RF operational requirements, that required low out-gassing and a service temperature of a cryogenic 4 Kelvin."

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is a major new facility for world astronomy. ALMA will be comprised of a giant array of 12-m submillimetre quality antennas, with baselines of several kilometres. An additional, compact array of 7-m and 12-m antennas is also foreseen. Construction of ALMA started in 2003 and will be completed in 2010. The ALMA project is an international collaboration between Europe, Japan and North America in cooperation with the Republic of Chile.

SOURCE: Emerson & Cuming Microwave Products