LOFAR: The LOw-Frequency ARray
LOFAR: LOw-Frequency ARray (низкочастотная решетка)
2013-05-15
SCID: 54.1/5cb7ddr8
Discuss with AI
International LOFAR Telescope (ILT)LOFARdigital beam-forminglow-frequency radio (10–240 MHz)phased-array design
Figures from the paper
Abstract (AI)
LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10–240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR’s new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.
Key Findings
1
Commissioning has produced a selection of new observational results demonstrating the instrument’s performance (presented in the paper).
2
Dense core and long interferometric baselines provide unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime.
3
Digital beam-forming enables agile, rapid repointing and the potential for multiple simultaneous observations.
4
LOFAR is a new-generation radio interferometer covering the low-frequency range 10–240 MHz using a novel phased-array design.
5
LOFAR operates as an open observatory via the International LOFAR Telescope foundation and delivers fully calibrated science products through automated processing pipelines.
6
LOFAR’s capabilities and methodologies serve as an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
7
The array consists of a dense core near Exloo (Netherlands) and 40 stations nearing completion, plus stations in Germany (5), France (1), Sweden (1), and the UK (1).
Research Object
LOFAR radio interferometer (the LOw-Frequency ARray) including its stations, phased-array design, and digital beam-forming system
Research Subject
Capabilities, design and performance of the low-frequency (10–240 MHz) radio observatory including sensitivity, angular resolution, station deployment, beam-forming agility, automated processing pipelines, and its role as a pathfinder for the SKA
Publication Details
Publication Date
2013-05-15
Journal
Publisher
ISSN
Open access PDF
Access Type
Author Information
Download PDF
Subscribe to digest