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Science status of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP)

Science status of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). Simon Johnston ASKAP Project Scientist 14 May 2009 ATUC Open Session. ASKAP Design Goals. High-dynamic range, wide field-of-view imaging Number of dishes 36 Dish diameter 12 m

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Science status of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP)

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  1. Science status of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) Simon Johnston ASKAP Project Scientist 14 May 2009 ATUC Open Session

  2. ASKAP Design Goals High-dynamic range, wide field-of-view imaging Number of dishes 36 Dish diameter 12 m Max baseline 6km (30 dishes inside 2 km) Resolution 10 Sensitivity 65 m2/K Speed 1.3x105 m4/K2.deg2 Observing frequency 700 – 1800 MHz Field of View 30 deg2 Processed Bandwidth 300 MHz Channels 16384 Integration time 5 seconds Focal Plane Phased Array 192 elements + Infrastructure for new SKA-ready observatory Murchison Radio Observatory (MRO)

  3. ASKAP Design Goals High-dynamic range, wide field-of-view imaging Number of dishes 36 Dish diameter 12 m Max baseline 6km (30 dishes inside 2 km) Resolution 10 Sensitivity 65 m2/K Speed 1.3x105 m4/K2.deg2 Observing frequency 700 – 1800 MHz Field of View 30 deg2 Processed Bandwidth 300 MHz Channels 16384 Integration time 5 seconds Focal Plane Phased Array 192 elements + Infrastructure for new SKA-ready observatory Murchison Radio Observatory (MRO)

  4. 36 Antenna Array Configuration Spectral Line: Inner 30 dishes only, resolution of 30 arcsec at 1.4 GHz Highest resolution is 10 arcsec at 1.4 GHz, continuum only Natural weighting gives 20 arcsec beam at 1.4 GHz Gupta et al. 2008, ATNF ASKAP Memo 21

  5. ASKAP Science - Papers Johnston et al. 2007, PASA 24, 174-188 ASKAP is a fast survey telescope and will spend 75% of its time doing large-scale surveys Johnston et al. 2008, Exp Ast 22, 151-273

  6. ASKAP - Operational Principles • ASKAP telescope time will be assigned to astronomical research projects subject only to scientific merit and to technical and operational feasibility • No a priori guaranteed science time will be allocated to particular countries, institutions, nor to any individuals currently on existing (2008) working groups • ASKAP will not be a user-operated telescope; generally users interact with the Science Archive • ASKAP data and data products will be released publicly through the ASKAP Science Archive on a timescale designed to maximise scientific utilization and impact • The ASKAP Science Archive will be available to astronomers from all over the world • Simultaneous observing programs will be encouraged where possible; • In general there will be three classes of observing time allocated on ASKAP; Survey Science Projects, Guest Science Projects and Target of Opportunity over-rides. • Time Assignment will be made by the ATNF Director, subject to advice received from the appropriate Times Assignment / Survey Review committees 

  7. Survey Science Projects • What are they? • Large(>1500hrs) and coherent science projects that utilise ASKAP’s wide field-of-view and fast survey speed to enable major science outcomes early in its lifetime. • Who has access to the data? • All data and data products produced by the Survey Science Projects (subject to storage capacity) will be made publicly available to the ASKAP Science Archive, on a timescale determined by operational issues (e.g. quality control) and not proprietorial interests. • How much time will they take? • During the first five years of science operations, up to 75% of observing time will be available. • How will they be chosen? • There will be a proposal process and surveys will be selected by competitive peer review. • Membership and leadership of Survey Teams will be open access but should include at least one ATNF affiliated person. • Survey Teams must provide clear statements on data release • Project ranking will take into account the intention of teams to provide value added data products into the Archive and the timeline for so doing.

  8. Guest Science Projects • For the first five years of routine science operations with ASKAP, up to 25% of observing time will be available for Guest Science Programs. • TAC process similar to current ATNF facilities. • Default is no proprietary period, but reasonable grounds will allow 12 months

  9. Target of Opportunity • ToO events are unexpected astronomical events of extraordinary scientific interest for which observations on a short time scale are justified • ToO is allocated at the discretion of the ATNF Director and may displace other scheduled observations at short notice. • No proprietary periodfor ToO data or data products

  10. ASKAP Current Status • Expression of Interest for survey science projects • Open access, international call, closed Dec 15, 2008 • 38 received, 354 authors, 25 years telescope time

  11. Expressions of Interest Science areas: Extragalactic spectral line Continuum Polarization Galactic spectral line Slow transients Fast transients Pulsars VLBI

  12. ASKAP Current Status • Expression of Interest for survey science projects • Open access, international call, closed Dec 15, 2008 • 38 received, 354 authors, 25 years telescope time • Review Committee • Dickey (UTas), Feain (ATNF), Freeman (ANU), Johnston (ATNF), Lazio (SKA), Morganti (ASTRON), Stairs (UBC), Tingay (Curtin) • 27 invites to submit Survey Science Proposals • Due date June 15, 2009

  13. ASKAP Current Status • 27 invites to submit Survey Science Proposals • Due date June 15, 2009 • 15-20 proposals expected (following mergers) • Review Committee • Lazio (SKA; Chair), Booth (ZA), Condon (NRAO), Diamond (Manchester), Ekers (ATNF), Jarrett (CalTech), Osterloo (ASTRON), Schmidt (ANU) • Facilitated by SJ & IF • Proposal (~20 pages) evaluation based on • Science (50%) • Design Study (25%) • Community Benefit (15%) • Team Management (10%) • Technical and functional requirements • Decision on ranking on 1 August

  14. ASKAP – Next steps • Successful proposals move to design study • Aug 2009 – End 2011 • Science simulations, software development, collaborations • ATNF support for the top-ranked teams • First antenna December 2009 • 6 element test array operational mid 2010 • Commissioning data for teams to play with • ASKAP operational early 2013 • First 5 years scheduled • Capabilities come on-line as time progresses • Never too late to join a Survey Science Team and participate in ASKAP science

  15. ASKAP - Archive Facility • Science archive likely to be located in Perth • Typical data volumes are: • Continuum visibilities – 500 Tbyte/year • Continuum images – 70 Tbyte/year • Spectral cubes – 2200 Tbyte/year • Transient images – 4200 Tbyte/year • Spectral visibilities not archived • User Access • Open access, 24/7 availability, helpdesk etc • Search / examine / extract data, images etc via VO tools • Export large volumes of data to outside world • User software support • No re-processing of visibilities envisaged • Status: Currently under negociation with ICARA

  16. Contact Us Phone: 1300 363 400 or +61 3 9545 2176 Email: enquiries@csiro.au Web: www.csiro.au Thank you Australia Telescope National Facility Simon Johnston CSIRO Science Leader ASKAP Project Scientist Phone: 02 9372 4573 Email: Simon.Johnston@csiro.au Web: www.csiro.au/atnf/ Cape Town, Feb 2009

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