<title>Technical specification of the Millimeter Array</title>

Abstract

The Millimeter Array (MMA) is a synthesis imaging telescope designed to provide sensitive, high-precision astronomical imaging at sub-arcsecond, 0'.1, resolution at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. In order to achieve these goals it is necessary to locate the Millimeter Array on an extremely dry site so as to minimize the atmospheric background emission; the receiver noise temperatures should be near the limit imposed by photon noise and the antenna warm spillover contribution should be minimized. It is possible to quantify each of these requirements, and the interactions among them, so as to achieve the maximum sensitivity for the Millimeter Array. Together, the requirements lead to the technical design goals for the Millimeter Array.