MeerKAT DBE Past Present Future Alan Langman 28 September 2009

Overview Objectives of MeerKAT MeerKAT Phase XDM KAT-7 –ROACH/katADC –Fringe Finder MeerKAT Conclusions 2

Objectives of MeerKAT 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 2010, 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 (precursor) 3

Definitions 4

KAT element MeerKAT 5

SKA-SA: MeerKAT Phases XDM (Done) Single Antenna HARTRAO (PED) KAT7 (7 antennas Karoo) Fringe Finder Phase 1 KAT7 Optimization/Learning?? MeerKAT (80 Antennas Karoo)

eXperimental DeMonstrator 7

Requirements Initially FPA/Multiple Feed (7 feeds) Spectrometer –256MHz bandwidth –2K channels –Minimum 100us dump time Radiometer Histogram 8

XDM: Plan A 9 ATX12 Power Relax Component Placement Focus gateware and firmware on XDM Requirements

XDM: Plan B

First Casper Solution 11

XDM Results 08/27/08

meerKAT-7 13

Key Requirements Input signal –72->328MHz, -27dBm (max 0dBm), NF=40dB Correlator/Beamformer – a) 1 band with total bandwidth >= 256MHz covering the whole input frequency range, with equi-spaced channels of at least 1 MHz bandwidth each –(b) 1 (goal 2 or 4) bands with total bandwidth >= 3.5 MHz selected from anywhere in the input frequency range, with equi- spaced channels of <= 10.7 kHz bandwidth each –(c) 1 (goal 2 or 4) bands with total bandwidth >= 580 kHz selected from anywhere in the input frequency range, with equi- spaced channels of <= 530 Hz bandwidth each 14

KAT-7 Block Diagram 15

Key Component ROACH 16

katADC (production) 17

katADC Prelim results 18

Mechanical Enclosure 19

Detailed Design 20

Key Component ROACH 21

Production (always fun) 22

Stress testing tool chain 23 Million channels, 512MHz BW, Single ROACH

Fringe Finder -Risk Mitigation Fringe Finder (same base specs as KAT- 7) – End of 2009 Single baseline dual polarized correlator Quad baseline single polarization correlator. 100ms dump time. 24

Physical Solution 25

FF Signal Flow 26

Yet another PoCo 27

Towards KAT-7 (Casper Collab) 28

MeerKAT Key Specs 29 MetricKAT-7MeerKAT Pre-SAC MeerKAT Post-SAC F low 1.2 GHz700 MHz580 MHz F high 1.95 GHz10 GHz15 GHz A e /T sys 16 m 2 /K200 m 2 /K DR imag 30 dB60 dB DR spec 30 dB50 dB Xpol-20 dB-25 dB BW256 MHz1 024 MHz (2 048 MHz) MHz (4 096 MHz) N chan ? T int <1 s0.1 ms

MeerKAT Phasing KAT Phase Phase Phase Phase F low 1.2 GHz0.9 GHz 8 GHz 0.9 GHz 8 GHz 0.58 GHz 8 GHz F high 1.95 GHz1.75 GHz 14.5 GHz 1.75 GHz 14.5 GHz 2.5 GHz 14.5 GHz BW RF 256 MHz850 MHz2 GHz 4 GHz ADC800 MSa/s5 GSa/s 10 GSa/s BW DIG 256 MHz850 MHz2 GHz 4 GHz B min 20 m B max 200 m10 km 50 km 30

MeerKAT Phasing KAT Phase F low 1.2 GHz0.9 GHz F high 1.95 GHz1.75 GHz BW RF 256 MHz850 MHz ADC800 MSa/s5 GSa/s BW DIG 256 MHz850 MHz B min 20 m B max 200 m10 km 31

Block Diagram 32

Key Challenges Digitization – Feed, Back Dish, Pedestal or correlator room Distributed correlator architecture Timing and synchronization Array Process/Backend Processor 33

Conclusions Road to MeerKAT XDM KAT-7 ROACH development Fringe Finder Risk Mitigation MeerKAT challenge 34

Questions?