The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder: System Architecture and Specifications of the Boolardy Engineering Test Array. (13th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hotan, A. W.; Bunton, J. D.; Harvey-Smith, L.; Humphreys, B.; Jeffs, B. D.; Shimwell, T.; Tuthill, J.; Voronkov, M.; Allen, G.; Amy, S.; Ardern, K.; Axtens, P.; Ball, L.; Bannister, K.; Barker, S.; Bateman, T.; Beresford, R.; Bock, D.; Bolton, R.; Bowen, M.; Boyle, B.; Braun, R.; Broadhurst, S.; Brodrick, D.; Brooks, K.; Brothers, M.; Brown, A.; Cantrall, C.; Carrad, G.; Chapman, J.; Cheng, W.; Chippendale, A.; Chung, Y.; Cooray, F.; Cornwell, T.; Davis, E.; de Souza, L.; DeBoer, D.; Diamond, P.; Edwards, P.; Ekers, R.; Feain, I.; Ferris, D.; Forsyth, R.; Gough, R.; Grancea, A.; Gupta, N.; Guzman, J. C.; Hampson, G.; Haskins, C.; Hay, S.; Hayman, D.; Hoyle, S.; Jacka, C.; Jackson, C.; Jackson, S.; Jeganathan, K.; Johnston, S.; Joseph, J.; Kendall, R.; Kesteven, M.; Kiraly, D.; Koribalski, B.; Leach, M.; Lenc, E.; Lensson, E.; Li, L.; Mackay, S.; Macleod, A.; Maher, T.; Marquarding, M.; McClure-Griffiths, N.; McConnell, D.; Mickle, S.; Mirtschin, P.; Norris, R.; Neuhold, S.; Ng, A.; O'Sullivan, J.; Pathikulangara, J.; Pearce, S.; Phillips, C.; Qiao, R. Y.; Reynolds, J. E.; Rispler, A.; Roberts, P.; Roxby, D.; Schinckel, A.; Shaw, R.; Shields, M.; Storey, M.; Sweetnam, T.; Troup, E.; Turner, B.; Tzioumis, A.; Westmeier, T.; Whiting, M.; Wilson, C.; Wilson, T.; Wormnes, K.; Wu, X.;
• Is Part Of: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. Volume 31(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-11-13
• Subjects: instrumentation: detectors – instrumentation: interferometers – telescopes; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Southern sky (Astronomy) -- Periodicals; Astrophysics -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1017/pasa.2014.36
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1323-3580

Abstract

Abstract: This paper describes the system architecture of a newly constructed radio telescope – the Boolardy engineering test array, which is a prototype of the Australian square kilometre array pathfinder telescope. Phased array feed technology is used to form multiple simultaneous beams per antenna, providing astronomers with unprecedented survey speed. The test array described here is a six-antenna interferometer, fitted with prototype signal processing hardware capable of forming at least nine dual-polarisation beams simultaneously, allowing several square degrees to be imaged in a single pointed observation. The main purpose of the test array is to develop beamforming and wide-field calibration methods for use with the full telescope, but it will also be capable of limited early science demonstrations.