David Alejandro González Mateus is studying for a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering and represents the UIS in the XI Colombian Antarctic Expedition, thus continuing the scientific work in radio astronomy initiated in December and January by Professor Julián Rodríguez Ferreira and the student Elián Calderón Quintero.
The research deals with radio astronomy in these conditions at the south pole, to study a very specific science of signals close to the origin of the universe. In its instrumental stage, the aim is to understand how the radio telescope, which is the sensor, interacts with the surrounding environment, that is, the signals that interfere with it, and at the same time how it interacts with the place.
“Thanks to the UIS for all the support provided and for the incredible opportunity to continue with the radio astronomy project, related to the characterization for the location of a Colombian radio telescope here in Antarctica,” said Gonzalez Mateus.
This project is part of his master’s thesis, which is directed by Rodriguez Ferreira, so in this second phase tests are conducted to evaluate the operation and propose structural improvements, optimizing the radio telescope for installation in Antarctica, in order to operate semi-permanently or permanently in the capture of signals from the reionization epoch.
At this stage González Mateus is accompanied by Germán Chaparro, professor of Astronomy at the University of Antioquia, co-investigator of the project and with whom Rodríguez Ferreira initiated the idea of doing radio astronomy in Colombia.
In addition to the radio telescope, a meteorological and air quality station was brought to measure atmospheric variables such as temperature, pressure, humidity, solar radiation at the site and to carry out studies to install solar panels and micro-grids to operate the equipment on a semi-permanent basis.
The Colombian Antarctic Program is coordinated by the Colombian Ocean Commission, an intersectoral advisory, consultation, planning and coordination body of the National Government in matters of National Ocean and Coastal Space Policy and its various related strategic, scientific, technological, economic and environmental issues related to the sustainable development of the Colombian seas and their resources.
