SKA/LOFAR Ray Norris ATNF Outreach workshop 2 Dec 2003

1. SKA/LOFARRay NorrisATNF Outreach workshop 2 Dec 2003

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

3. CSIRO Strategic Plan

4. LOFAR – LOw Frequency ARray • 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 SKA • Australia was invited to submit a site proposal

5. 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!

6. Proposed WA Location of LOFAR

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. LOFAR – international timescale • Three sites considered: • N Netherlands (Drenthe), • SW US (New Mexico, Texas), • Western Australia • Consortium visit to Australia, February 2003

11. 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 ...” • d-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

12. 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

13. 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

14. SKA – Square Kilometre Array • 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

16. 1Tbit/s data transport requirement in inner array 100 Gbit/s data transport requirement in outer array

17. 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

18. 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.

19. ATNF SKA/LOFAR Project Many activities common to both SKA and LOFAR: • Site testing • Radio-quiet reserve • Significant overlap in science cases • Technology 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

20. CSIRO MXDP? P Hall (Seconded to international SKA) Work Packages Other CSIRO Divisions CSIRO SKA/LOFAR project

21. 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.