Road to MeerKAT KAT-7 DBE Alan Langman

meerKAT

Overview Objectives of meerKAT Location Location Location MeerKAT Engineering Specification Prototypes to MeerKAT KAT-7 Mention Control Interface Other research Questions?

Build a world class radio telescope (up to 80 dishes) Choose a frequency range that is likely to have high science impact. Commission a 7 dish system from end of 2009, engineering risk mitigation and do some early science. Train a new generation of scientists and engineers who are capable to participate in large international projects, such as the SKA. Provide an excellent facility for local and international scientists. Implement mission-driven innovation to mobilise industry, academia and research fraternity. SKA pathfinder KAT/MeerKAT Objectives

SKA Bid - Remote site

The SKA & KAT site

South African Radio Frequency Measurement Campaign

Radio Frequency Environment HartRAO

MeerKAT Specifications ParameterMinimum scenarioGoal scenario Frequency range GHz GHz Expandable to include bands >8 GHz Ae/Tsys200 m 2 /K300 m 2 /K Feed & FoV Single-pixel wideband feed giving natural primary beam FoV Dish diameter12 m Number of dishes80100 Tsys30 K25 K Array configuration 70% core array with 500m max. baseline. 30% extended array with 10km max. baseline. Instantaneous bandwidth512 MHz1024 MHz Number of channels16 k64 k Polarisation purity-25dB Dynamic Range50 dB Phased array beams5> 5

MeerKAT DBE Functions Imaging (continuum + spectral line) Beamforming(continuum + spectral line) Pulsar Timing Transient Detection Baseband recording VLBI (and more … scope is still under revision)

Operations Centre (Cape Town) Station Controller (Karoo) Internet access Front end station processor Digital Receiver Back end station processor User (Scientist) Optical RF links: 80 x 2 optical links (80 dishes, 2 polarisations) Station data: High speed, large data volume, long distance data transfer Karoo Station to off- site data processing facility. Station data: Distribution internationally, typically over TCP/IP. Key interfaces Dishes and Feeds: 80 x 12 m dishes, each equipped with a single pixel prime focus feed What is the KAT/MeerKAT?

The prototyping phases KAT-7 construction & commissioning Experimental development model (XDM) Phased Experimental Demonstrator (PED) 4x3x2 FPA Completed Current – at HartRAO Current – at SAAO On the proposed SKA site in Karoo – 2008 onwards MeerKAT roll-out & commissioning Same site in the Karoo – 2009 onwards

11 April 2007

Drift scan across Cygnus A First extra-galactic object recorded by XDM – 17/07/2007

KAT-7 7

KAT-7 Specifications ParameterSpec Dish diameter12 m Number of dishes7 Tsys30 K Frequency range0.5-3 GHz Array configuration< 100 m Feed configuration Single pixel feed, prime focus Instantaneous bandwidth 256 MHz Number of channels16 k

MeerKAT DBE Functions Imaging (continuum + spectral line) Beamforming(continuum + spectral line) Pulsar Timing Baseband recording VLBI

KAT-7 Functional View

KAT-7 Physical Architecure

DBE Architecture for KAT-7

Mechanical

Roach

katADC Requirements The katADC shall include an E2PROM to store configuration information. The katADC shall operate from 50MHz to 1GHz (goal 1.5GHz). The katADC shall sample data with more than 6.5 ENOB over the full operating frequency range. The katADC shall have a 50 ohm termination on the input, switchable via a suitable RF switch. The katADC shall have 30dB RF gain control The katADC shall have an onboard PLL clock generator. The katADC shall have RFI shielding.

katADC

Gateware/Firmware 100% CASPER tools Developed Board Support Package for ROACH Integrated into toolchain U-boot port on board Ready for ROACH

Control / Monitoring Control interface are lines of text –Similar to tinysh, but with two differences: Syntax somewhat more formal, more amenable to machine parsing Not only set and get commands – commands defined for application domain (eg: start a data capture) In concept similar to a shell, but also SMTP, IMAP, POP, FTP

Implementation Runs out of FPGA blockrams on PPC Control protocol runs over serial port Multiple simultaneous data products over network interfaces (100Mbit, 10Gbit): –Histograms (2 * 256 bins) –Radiometers (2 * integrated power value) –Spectrometer (1024 channels, IQUV integrated) –Raw (2 * 1024 complex values)

Datastream control Create and destroy streams Set up parameters for data products Start and stop data streams Data transfer –High speed data products emitted autonomously by gateware over 10Gbit –Lower bandwidth data products transferred by processor via 100Mbit interface

Example Command Broadcast histogram data for 15 seconds: ?capture-create stream1 ?capture-source stream1 hist ?capture-destination stream1 xdp1: :7002 ?channel-dump-rate stream1 4 ?capture-start stream ?capture-stop stream ?capture-destroy stream1

Other control and monitoring Set time Configure network interfaces Dump and restore settings to survive reprogramming Report log events...

hiBOB (M. Aitken)

hubbleADC (J. Salkinder)