SKA/LOFARRay Norris

ATNF Outreach workshop 2 Dec 2003

Overview

LOFAR ($200m, 2005-2008) SKA ($2b, 2010-2020) ATNF SKA/LOFAR program Outreach needs

CSIRO Strategic Plan

Total cost A$ 200m First software telescope 20 – 240 MHz ~25000 antennas clustered in 100 stations over 400 km Current consortium members:

MIT (USA)NRL (USA)Astron (NL)

Developmental step towards SKAAustralia was invited to submit a site proposal

LOFAR – LOw Frequency ARray

LOFAR Science Highlights The possible detection of the epoch of reionisation New frontier science - all sky searches for transient

phenomena at low-frequency The deepest yet study of the star formation history of

the Universe A large survey of high redshift galaxies that can be

followed up with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, Parkes radiotelescope and Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope

Solar plasma physics and space weather - understanding the physical processes in solar events, and their impact on Earth.

Other things which we haven’t thought of!

Proposed WA Location of LOFAR

Features of WA Proposal

Maximised scientific return, radio-quiet

Dedicated optic-fibre and roads

Maximised scientific return, best view of sky

Staff in attractive coastal city

LOFAR – new technologies

Pushes boundaries in ICT technology areas, eg.

High bandwidth data transport

– Optimised 6 Terabits/s link needed from central cluster to Geraldton

Signal processing

– Largest grid computer in Australia at central processing facility

Smart antennas

– Interference mitigation

LOFAR Science Centres

LOFAR usage will be through your desktop, from anywhere in the world, using VO protocols, using >1 Gbit/s links

There will be > three major science centres– Australia (Sydney Uni?)

– USA (Cambridge, Mass.)

– Netherlands (Groningen?)

– Also one in WA?

– Australian Centre for eScience in Perth, WA? Role of science centres

– Centre of expertise for proposing, planning, and analysing experiments

– Provide processing power and data archive for users

– Running user instruments (e.g. All-sky-monitor, pulsar machine)

LOFAR – international timescale

Three sites considered:– N Netherlands (Drenthe),

– SW US (New Mexico, Texas),

– Western Australia

Consortium visit to Australia, February 2003

LOFAR site selection LOFAR Site Evaluation Committee (August 2003):

“… the SEC finds that Western Australia most enhances the scientific outcome from the array and presents the least technical risk ….”

LOFAR International Steering Committee (September 2003) “The ISC plans to initiate discussions and negotiations with the groups in Australia on the proposed siting of LOFAR ...”

-PDR, Washington (30 October 2003): LOFAR will be built in Western Australia provided the funding to do so is available. Australia is now effectively a de facto member of the consortium.

Netherlands Cabinet decision, 28 November 2003€52m made available for LOFAR. Unclear at present what strings are attached

LOFAR – Australian funding

$20m expected from WA Government (for infrastructure)– Build up high-tech. science base in WA– Attract SKA and other facilities– International radio-quiet reserve

$20m expected from CSIRO for R&D($10m new money plus $10m in-kind ATNF)– Grid computing– Virtual Observatory– Pipeline processor– Energy– IT– Desert Knowledge– Smart antennas

$20m to be requested from Fed. Government for construction, provided this is supported by astronomical community

LOFAR – timescales

Funding decisions should be in place by early 2004 We propose

– to ask Fed Govt for $20m of “astronomy” funds (subject to community agreement)

– to leverage $40m other Australian funding,

– and $160m international funding,

– to build $200m LOFAR in Australia. Infrastructure construction will start in 2004 Hardware procurement will be in 2005 Initial Operating Phase 2006-7 Final Operating Phase 2007-8 Australia will then be hosting the world’s most sensitive radio telescope Upgrades to SKA 2010 onwards

• 1 square kilometre of collecting area• Cost A$2B, consortium of 12 countries• Site selection 2006, Australia is strong candidate

• Australia/US/South Africa/China

• Construction starts 2012• Completion 2020

• ~ 300 array-stations, • Sparsely scattered across continental distances• Connected by high-bandwidth optic-fibre cable• Next-decade supercomputer to combine and process data.

• Current industry partners include: Connell Wagner, CEA, Advanced Powder Technologies, Dell

SKA – Square Kilometre Array

1Tbit/s data transportrequirement in inner array

100 Gbit/s data transportrequirement in outer array

SKA meeting in Geraldton

2003 SKA International Workshop in Geraldton, WA, 27-31 July 2003

Over 135 delegates from 21 countries Very successful – well organised – thanks to Michelle

Storey and others Many discussions in considerable depth Also many valuable side-meetings Involve local indigenous community.

– Auction of The Emu in the Sky – Exhibition of works by the Marra Indigenous Art Collective

Attended by the Premier of Western Australia, Dr Geoff Gallop, plus other VIPs

SKA NTD(New Technology Demonstrator)

Luneberg lens Demonstrator lens with two

feed arms constructed New dielectric material

developed with very low loss (and recently patented)

New prototype lens being assembled for testing

After testing (late 2003), will decide on future direction for this project.

ATNF SKA/LOFAR Project Many activities common to both SKA and LOFAR:

Site testing Radio-quiet reserve Significant overlap in science casesTechnology development

LOFAR is in many ways a Phase I SKA, and much of the technology development is common to both

RFI mitigation High-bandwidth data transmission Integrated receivers Software

CSIRO SKA/LOFAR project

BBoyleATNF Director

R NorrisProject Leader

W WilsonEngineering

Engineering staffM Storey

Project Manager(TBA)

Project ScientistN Killeen

ComputingJ Kot

Project Engineer

Other CSIRO Divisions

Work PackagesP Hall (Seconded to international SKA)

CSIRO MXDP?

SKA/LOFAR outreach

SKA/LOFAR are big high-visibility projects tackling fundamental but accessible problems– Good vehicle for outreach

SKA/LOFAR need funding!– Need to maintain high visibility

SKA media resources already good LOFAR needs media resources

– Glossies, movie, etc.