ngVLA Reference Design

On 6 August 2019, the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) project completed the public release of the ngVLA Reference Design. The reference design is a low-technical-risk, costed concept that supports the key science goals for the facility, and forms the technical and cost basis of the ngVLA Astro2020 Decadal Survey proposal. The compendium includes 56 technical documents (1400+ pages) and represents the work of more than 54 engineers and scientists contributing to the project. While led by the NRAO project team, the author list includes many collaborators from the U.S. and international radio astronomy community who have contributed their expertise to the project. Many more – Science Book authors, Science Advisory Council, Science Working Group, and Technical Advisory Council members – have contributed to the definition of the science case and science requirements, or contributed through critical review.

This technical compendium describes the ngVLA system from end to end, and provides a snapshot of the technical development of the facility concept as of August 2019. As the first technical baseline, it has gaps and minor inconsistencies that will be addressed in advance of the system conceptual design review, but it presents the clear and substantive progress that has been made in defining a realizable ngVLA facility concept. 

The three volume compendium is available for download below. Please visit the ngVLA Project Documents page for access to the latest ngVLA design materials as the team progresses towards a conceptual design baseline. We thank all who have contributed to the science case and technical definition of the ngVLA concept and this supporting system design.