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A.J. Baker (National Radio Astronomy Observatory/University of Maryland), A.I. Harris (Maryland), P.R. Jewell (NRAO), K.P. Rauch, S.G. Zonak (Maryland), K. O'Neil, A.L. Shelton, R.D. Norrod, J. Ray, G. Watts (NRAO)
To understand the cosmic histories of star formation and accretion, observers must determine the redshifts of distant galaxies whose central starbursts and/or active nuclei are heavily obscured by dust. Direct spectroscopy of molecular emission lines is the ideal way to meet this challenge, but a suitable instrument must have large instantaneous bandwidth to achieve broad redshift coverage. We describe a new, ultra-wideband "Zpectrometer" now under construction for the Green Bank Telescope that satisfies this need. Using a novel analog lag cross-correlator spectrometer technology in a correlation radiometer architecture, the Zpectrometer will produce stable spectra over the entire 26-40 GHz range of the GBT's Ka-band receiver. The Zpectrometer will enable blind searches for CO(1-0) emission in the redshift range where the cosmic star formation rate density peaks, higher-J CO transitions at earlier epochs, and rotational lines from other molecules at a variety of redshifts.
This project is funded by a National Science Foundation ATI Program grant to the University of Maryland and by contributions from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.