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VLBI Report LBA Operations & eVLBI. Tasso Tzioumis ATNF May 2008. Operations - transitioning. Evolution: S2 tapes + LBA correlator - Stopped in 2007. Disk-system + software correlator - Main user system eVLBI - in development. Already offered to users. Software correlation
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VLBI Report LBA Operations & eVLBI Tasso Tzioumis ATNF May 2008
Operations - transitioning • Evolution: • S2 tapes + LBA correlator - Stopped in 2007. • Disk-system + software correlator - Main user system • eVLBI - in development. Already offered to users. • Software correlation • Contracted to Swinburne from 1 October 2006 (2 years) • Worked very well - no major problems • May substantially transfer to Curtin in 2008 • Movement of key people • Under negotiation with Swinburne & Curtin • Public Wiki for all LBA observations • Schedules; setups; logs • Remote VLBI observing tested - Mp fully remote
LBA Statistics 2007 • Failures: • Parkes: almost all due to high wind • Ceduna & Hobart: Windstows and some power problems • Tidbinbilla: Some config problems (personnel change) • ** High success rate -- real-time fringe checking **
Network connectivity • AARNet3 Regional Network to ATNF antennas • 2 x 1 Gbps connectivity for each ATNF antenna • 3rd 1 Gbps link for lightpaths to Europe (EXPReS) • 10 Gbps (x multiple wavelengths) backbone • Hobart 1 Gbps to UTas operating • Bass-Strait link still very limited. • Correlator connectivity: • Swinburne 1 Gbps “almost” there (2 years….) • Curtin links planned • Good connectivity to Europe • Data transfers disk-to-disk to Bonn correlator • Have avoided disk shipping • 1 Gbps lightpaths to Europe! (see eVLBI) • Better international connectivity than within Australia!!
eVLBI - Oz developments • Pk-At-Mp eVLBI Longbaseline Array (PAMELA) • March 2007 - initial development: • Parkes CPSR2 30-node cluster for software correlator • Successful test observations Pk-At-Mp @ 256 Mbps • Limited observations with Hobart at 128 Mbps • Circinus X-1 detected at 18 & 3 cm -- • Paper published within weeks!! • Further developments - 2007-8: • Improved cluster connections - new nodes • 512 Mbps capability developed & offered to users • 1 Gbps tests successful (Pks-ATCA) • In progress: • New APSR cluster to improve processing capabilities
eVLBI - International • EXPReS tests: • July 2007: Mopra; Shanghai; European telescopes; • JIVE hardware correlator • Longest eVLBI baseline (Mp-Darnhall) • Huge international publicity!! • October 2007: Mp-ATCA-Pks to JIVE • 3 x 1 Gbps dedicated lightpaths! • 12 hour hardware correlation at JIVE @ 512 Mbps • Paper on SN1987A submitted!! • Planned for June 2008: • ATNF antennas + Shanghai(China) + Kashima(Japan) • Correlation at Parkes on Swinburne software correlator • Extremely valuable connections to networking world • Internet2 IDEA prize won!! (Shaun Amy) • Science + Publicity!
LBA - Current Status • User facilities: • Disk recording up to 512 Mbps / 1 Gbps (ATNF) • May require justification for v. high rates • Software correlation at Swinburne/Curtin • PAMELA eVLBI at 512 Mbps • 1 Gbps tested but limited • Fast response ToO and NAPA proposals possible • eVLBI (3 antennas) for quick look • Disk recording for imaging • Mk5b recording supported • International compatibility • Geodetic VLBI with all ATNF antennas (new) • LBA data can be correlated at Bonn!
ATNF operations model & VLBI • Integrated scheduling with ATNF schedules • Main impact from proposed restricted receiver changes at Parkes. • Loss of flexibility • Proper-motion projects (almost) impossible • Move to shorter VLBI/eVLBI blocks? • minimise disk swaps & transfer over network? • Some issues with Tid scheduling • last minute schedule changes/swaps? • Cost and Impact of VLBI • Refer to future ops discussion forum submissions • http://www.atnf.csiro.au/observers/planning/discussion/outputThread.php?id=43