National Astronomical Observatory of Japan selects Anritsu 400G Tester and Optical Spectrum Analyzer to evaluate 1.6 Tbps transmission system of ALMA radio telescope
Anritsu Corporation is pleased to announce that the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has selected the Anritsu 400G Tester and Optical Spectrum Analyzer MS9740B for the evaluation of a new data transmission system (DTS) for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) located in Chile. The Network Master Pro MT1040A of the 400G Tester was used to evaluate the DTS communication function with 1.6 Tbps data transmission.
NAOJ is deeply involved in the operation of ALMA, which is overseen by a global partnership of 22 countries and territories, including Japan, and is responsible for the improvement of the performance of the radio telescope to take it into the 2030s (Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU)). NAOJ is cooperating with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in the USA to enable the communication of large amounts of observational data between the antennas (radio telescope) and the correlator (supercomputer) using the 400ZR * standard and, currently, is considering high-speed communication at 1.6 Tbps. The MT1040A, which is compatible with the 400ZR standard, was selected for DTS evaluation; the MT1040A has a feature that displays the physical layer measurement results at one-second intervals, allowing the detailed evaluation of the quality of the transmission of large amounts of astronomical data. In addition, the MS9740B has been selected to monitor the optical wavelength of the transmission signal during DTS evaluations.
Anritsu will contribute to improving the performance of ALMA, the unravelling of the universe, and the development of science.
Product Overview
Network Master Pro MT1040A
This B5-size 400G-compatible handheld portable tester, with excellent expandability and ease of use, can be controlled through a 9-inch touch panel. Multiple transport standards are supported, from 10 Mbps to 400 Gbps.
Optical Spectrum Analyzer MS9740B
The benchtop optical spectrum analyzer MS9740B features a wide dynamic range, high resolution, and fast sweep speeds over a wavelength range of 600 nm to 1750 nm.
Technical Terms
* 400ZR
One of the transceiver interface standards used primarily in Data Center Interconnect (DCI) construction. Allows high-capacity data transmission at 1.6 Tbps by combining a 400 Gbps transmission speed with four-wavelength wavelength division multiplexing technology. Supports data transmission up to approximately 80 km using its CFEC error correction function.
About ALMA
Since it first began observations in 2011, ALMA has made numerous discoveries that have helped us unravel the mysteries of the birth of the universe; in 2018, the ALMA Development Roadmap was announced, which will improve on the previous performance of the telescope to further advance astronomical research. The plan to enhance the capabilities of ALMA in line with this roadmap is called the “ALMA 2” project in Japan.
