Phase and frequency stability of Cassegrainian antennas is important in radio astronomy, geodesy, and planetary sciences. This paper presents a rigorous approach, exact definitions, and simple algorithms for computing these characteristics. Such a consistent and rigorous treatment of phase and frequency stability does not appear to exist in the literature. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) Deep Space Network, where ground station antennas support both communications and scientific data acquisitions from outer space. For communications data acquisition the subreflector is normally refo-derived for such parameters as RF signal path length, phase delay, and phase/frequency stability in a Cassegrainian antenna applicable to a narrow bandwidth channel, as well as algorithms for evaluating these parameters. The present work was performed to support the Voyager spacecraft encounter with Uranus in January 1986. The information was needed to provide Voyager Uranus radio science researchers with a rational basis for deciding the best strategy to operate the antennas involved during the crucial 5-hour occultation period of the encounter.

No abstract