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A focal plane array (FPA) is an array (e.g., a grid) of radio receivers at the focus of a radio telescope, i.e., at its focal plane. Bolometers are one of the types of receivers used. With it, radio images can be captured, much as optical telescopes do with CCDs. Development of FPAs over the last few years has progressed from a few tens of pixels to thousands of pixels and promises to continue this dramatic improvement. The term feedhorn array is seen for an FPA consisting of a number of receivers with feedhorns.
The phrase focal plane array is common in radio astronomy but is also sometimes used for grids of sensors used in other branches of astronomy, e.g., to indicate a CCD.