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Update On The Square Kilometer Array. World Space Congress October 15, 2002 Jill Tarter. What Is The SKA?. An enormous increase in the capability for groundbased radio astronomy Increase in sensitivity by a factor of 100 above current arrays Wide range of science drivers
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Update On TheSquare Kilometer Array World Space Congress October 15, 2002 Jill Tarter
What Is The SKA? • An enormous increase in the capability for groundbased radio astronomy • Increase in sensitivity by a factor of 100 above current arrays • Wide range of science drivers • Looking back to the dawn of galaxy formation • Mapping the structure of the early universe • Searching for evidence of other technological civilizations • Building to start ~2010 • “Born international”
Timeline • Annual science/technology workshops began in 1997 • Science With The SKA published in 1999 • 2000 MOU signed by representatives of 27 groups from 11 countries • International SKA Steering Committee formed • 7 “Whitepaper” end-to-end concepts submitted and reviewed – now being revised • Second round concept papers in 2004 • Concept and site selection 2005-6 • Construction begins in 2010
Jansky 1937 - the beginning Radio Telescope Sensitivity
Exponential increase in sensitivity x 105 since 1940 ! Radio Telescope Sensitivity
The Cosmic Web Spectra of QSOs show many Ly-a absorption lines due to low col. density H N-body simulations predict the existence of a cosmic web Complicated structure of filaments and sheets of material SKA will detect this web In HI emission!
for surveys and transient events in 106 galaxies ! SKA 6cm HST SKA’s 1o field-of-view SKA 20 cm 15 Mpc at z = 2 ALMA
SKA Redshift Surveys
SKA Poster Many beams offer great flexibility Many targets/users Interference rejection
Balloon andtail inflated 1/3 scale aerostat demonstrator funded Instrument Platform LAR Prototyping • 4 Focal Plane Array packages • covering 0.7-1.4 GHz • RF Feed design • Beam forming • Reflector actuators
US – Large-N/Small-D 84 stations 35-350 km 76 stations 350-3500 km Inexpensive, hydroformed dishes 2320 12m antennas within 35 km core
Australian – Cylindrical Reflector RF and Digital Beamforming
For SETI, • factor of 100 • in sensitivity • another factor of 10 in distance The Square Kilometer Array Like SETI, the SKA is intrinsically international Decision on concept and site(s) ~ 2005
Expand The Galactic Exploration SKA ATA Phoenix