SKA/LOFAR Ray Norris ATNF Outreach workshop 2 Dec 2003

Overview  LOFAR ($200m, )  SKA ($2b, )  ATNF SKA/LOFAR program  Outreach needs

CSIRO Strategic Plan

 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 LOFAR – LOw Frequency ARray

LOFAR Science Highlights n The possible detection of the epoch of reionisation n New frontier science - all sky searches for transient phenomena at low-frequency n The deepest yet study of the star formation history of the Universe n 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 n Solar plasma physics and space weather - understanding the physical processes in solar events, and their impact on Earth. n Other things which we haven’t thought of!

Proposed WA Location of LOFAR

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

LOFAR – new technologies Pushes boundaries in ICT technology areas, eg. n High bandwidth data transport –Optimised 6 Terabits/s link needed from central cluster to Geraldton n Signal processing –Largest grid computer in Australia at central processing facility n Smart antennas –Interference mitigation

LOFAR Science Centres n LOFAR usage will be through your desktop, from anywhere in the world, using VO protocols, using >1 Gbit/s links n 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? n 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)

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

LOFAR site selection n 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 ….” n 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...”  -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. n Netherlands Cabinet decision, 28 November 2003 €52m made available for LOFAR. Unclear at present what strings are attached

LOFAR – Australian funding n $20m expected from WA Government (for infrastructure) –Build up high-tech. science base in WA –Attract SKA and other facilities –International radio-quiet reserve n $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 n $20m to be requested from Fed. Government for construction, provided this is supported by astronomical community

LOFAR – timescales n Funding decisions should be in place by early 2004 n 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. n Infrastructure construction will start in 2004 n Hardware procurement will be in 2005 n Initial Operating Phase n Final Operating Phase n Australia will then be hosting the world’s most sensitive radio telescope n Upgrades to SKA 2010 onwards

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 SKA – Square Kilometre Array

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

SKA meeting in Geraldton n 2003 SKA International Workshop in Geraldton, WA, July 2003 n Over 135 delegates from 21 countries n Very successful – well organised – thanks to Michelle Storey and others n Many discussions in considerable depth n Also many valuable side-meetings n Involve local indigenous community. –Auction of The Emu in the Sky –Exhibition of works by the Marra Indigenous Art Collective n Attended by the Premier of Western Australia, Dr Geoff Gallop, plus other VIPs

SKA NTD (New Technology Demonstrator) Luneberg lens n Demonstrator lens with two feed arms constructed n New dielectric material developed with very low loss (and recently patented) n New prototype lens being assembled for testing n After testing (late 2003), will decide on future direction for this project.

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

CSIRO SKA/LOFAR project BBoyle ATNF Director R Norris Project Leader M Storey Project Manager J Kot Project Engineer N Killeen Computing (TBA) Project Scientist W Wilson Engineering Engineering staff Other CSIRO Divisions Work Packages P Hall (Seconded to international SKA) CSIRO MXDP?

SKA/LOFAR outreach n SKA/LOFAR are big high-visibility projects tackling fundamental but accessible problems –Good vehicle for outreach n SKA/LOFAR need funding! –Need to maintain high visibility n SKA media resources already good n LOFAR needs media resources –Glossies, movie, etc.