DOCSLIB.ORG

Delivering a Mega-Science Project for the World

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Delivering a Mega-Science Project for the World THE SKA OBSERVATORY DELIVERING A MEGA-SCIENCE PROJECT FOR THE WORLD SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 “With the SKA, you see how Contents astronomy brings together the Introduction: Next-generation radio astronomy 5 worlds of science and diplomacy. 1 SKAO - the SKA Observatory 13 2 Science 17 It shows that you can have inclusive 3 Impact 21 scientific, cultural and societal 4 Big Data 30 5 Establishment and delivery of the Observatory 32 development all together.” 6 Construction 34 7 Baseline budget 38 8 Baseline schedule 39 Dr Marga Gual Soler Science Diplomacy Expert and 2020 Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum 2 3 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 Next-generation radio astronomy The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a One array of 197 dishes, each 15m next-generation radio astronomy-driven in diameter, with a 150km maximum Big Data facility that will revolutionise our separation between the most distant understanding of the Universe and the dishes, located in South Africa. SKAO Global Headquarters laws of fundamental physics. Enabled by One array of 131,072 smaller antennas in the UK is home to cutting-edge technology, it promises to more than 120 experts grouped in 512 stations, with up to have a major impact on society, in science in science, engineering, 65km maximum separation between project management, policy, and beyond. the most distant stations, located in international law and many This publication presents a €1.99 Western Australia. other specialisms. The purpose-built HQ is neighbour billion (2020 €), 10-year project for the to Jodrell Bank Observatory, a construction and early operations of UNESCO World Heritage Site. the first phase of the SKA telescopes. The facility will be built, operated and maintained by SKAO (SKA Observatory), an inter-governmental organisation (IGO) being established to bring together nations from five continents under a single entity. Constructing and operating the SKA will position SKAO as the leading research infrastructure (RI) for radio astronomy globally, providing science capabilities to the international astronomical community for decades to come. The proposal is to construct two world- The SKA telescopes will initially comprise almost 200 dishes in South Africa, class complementary arrays of telescopes incorporating the existing MeerKAT radio operating in the radio regime of the telescope, and more than 130,000 antennas electromagnetic spectrum: in Western Australia. This image blends real hardware already on the ground on both sites with artist’s impressions of the future SKA antennas. L-R: SKA dishes and the existing precursor MeerKAT dishes in South Africa, and the existing AAVS2.0 prototype station with SKA-Low stations in Western Australia. 4 5 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 SKA in numbers The two telescopes will operate separately The 10-year deployment strategy allows but will, along with the data processing a degree of flexibility and ensures that €1.282 131,072 710 centres and the UK-based headquarters, the scientific return on investment begins form a single observatory. This proposal as early as possible – the astronomical BILLION ANTENNAS PETABYTES covers the initial phase of the SKA performance of the SKA telescopes will deployment, known as SKA Phase 1 (SKA1). already surpass that of other state-of-the- CONSTRUCTION IN WESTERN OF SCIENCE DATA DELIVERED The long-term ambition for SKAO is to art facilities mid-way through construction. COST (2020 €) AUSTRALIA TO SCIENCE USERS eventually expand on the first deployment This flexible approach assists with the by increasing the number of dishes across management of potential financial other African countries and the number constraints in SKAO Member States, of antennas in Australia. This prospect is the ongoing growth of the partnership, viable due to the intrinsic scalable nature and unexpected changes in global of the SKA telescope arrays, also known as circumstances, as the COVID-19 pandemic €0.704 197 1 GLOBAL interferometers. has shown can happen. The SKA will be constructed on existing radio Due to the sheer number of antennas, the BILLION DISHES NETWORK observatory sites, which will be expanded SKA telescopes require significant data FIRST 10 YEARS IN SOUTH AFRICA OF DATA CENTRES TO DELIVER and enhanced to accommodate the new processing both on and off-site to manage OF OPERATIONS (INCLUDING 64 infrastructure. The details of how the SKA the extremely large volume of information SCIENCE-READY DATA telescopes will be deployed, and initial science they will collect. This deluge of data will COST (2020 €) MEERKAT DISHES) PRODUCTS TO END-USERS exploitation enabled, are provided in two be distributed to the user community via a documents: The SKA Construction Proposal global network of data centres called SKA and the SKA Observatory Establishment and Regional Centres (SRCs) located in Member Delivery Plan. States. The SRCs will act as windows to the Observatory for the scientists to collect and analyse their data, enabling the 8 15 50+ The SKA’s low-frequency world-leading science it promises. antennas in Western Australia will number more than 130,000, enabling YEARS COUNTRIES YEARS astronomers to see further than ever before into the TO CONSTRUCT PARTICIPATING IN 2020 OF TRANSFORMATIONAL SCIENCE history of the Universe. Shown here are SKA-Low prototype antennas. Credit: ICRAR/Curtin 6 7 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 21st century astronomy As the world’s largest radio-frequency interferometer, SKA will establish itself as the radio astronomy Significant return on component of a suite of major facilities spanning the electromagnetic spectrum, on the ground and in space. investment for Members Membership of SKAO and SKA Mid & Low JWST XRISM SKAO will work in close partnership participation in SKA construction with the Commonwealth Scientific and The astronomical performance of the and operations offers a range Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) SKA telescopes will already surpass of high-level benefits: in Australia and the South African Radio LUT CTA Access to world-leading science, Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) in that of other state-of-the-art facilities with access to the facility South Africa to build and operate the ALMA broadly assigned in proportion Observatory and its telescopes. CSIRO mid-way through construction. to a Member’s investment. already operates the ASKAP telescope at the SKA site in Western Australia. SARAO Opportunity to be involved in a operates the MeerKAT telescope at the global scale RI providing a framework SKA site in South Africa. CSIRO and for government-to-government SARAO will employ many of the staff in This has been taken into account within the sources of RFI), optical (due to reflecting interaction, using SKAO as the focal Australia and South Africa who will build overall architecture of the telescopes as sunlight) and infrared (due to trapping point and basis for international and operate the SKA telescopes. well as in the detailed designs. heat) wavelengths. In the case of the SKA, relations and dialogue in many other the RFI emitted by these constellations The two sites have been chosen due to The recent boom in satellite mega- areas, outside astronomy or science. risks the loss of some observations. their radio quietness. These sites enjoy constellations involving very large numbers the national regulatory status of radio of satellites is posing additional challenges Mitigations are possible and thanks to Access to innovation arising RADIO MICROWAVE INFRARED VISIBLE ULTRAVIOLET X-RAY GAMMA RAY quiet zones (RQZ) that protect them from for professional astronomy because of constructive engagement with satellite from SKAO, with likely ground-based interference, making them their impact on observations at radio (as operators so far, SKAO has identified applications in other areas. ideal for radio astronomy observations, as a path that limits the impact on the the SKA precursor telescopes MeerKAT SKA telescopes while imposing limited Guaranteed minimum contractual A VIEW FROM INSIDE SKA in South Africa, and ASKAP and MWA in constraints on satellite operators. Strong return on investment for Australia, have already demonstrated. commitments from industry and Member Members, as defined in SKAO GRAVITATIONAL State governments will be needed in policies on procurement. WAVES DETECTORS To ensure maximum benefit from the natural environment, a great deal of effort the months and years to come to take LISA LIGO The SKA is a dream that is has been applied to the design of both these proposals forward and ensure the Opportunities for return on SKA telescopes to ensure that very little becoming true. By building investments are safeguarded and the investment throughout the lifetime radio frequency interference (RFI) is self- it, we are really contributing skies remain a sustainable resource for all of SKAO during operations and stakeholders, including SKAO. through further developments. ROMAN ASTROSAT-1 & -2 generated and that it is controlled by the to the history of astronomy infrastructure as much as possible. and technology. SKA PRECURSORS & PATHFINDERS VIRGO KAGRA Broader benefits through skills, Dr Maria Grazia Labate ATHENA ELTs SKA-Low Telescope Engineer outreach and education opportunities. 8 9 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 SKAO PROSPECTUS 2020 The unprecedented technical challenges Moulds for the A major IT endeavour in Assembly of the the SKA must overcome in the fields of SKA prototype science, technology and German funded SKA- A new frontier in dish panels at networking, Big Data and high-performance MPG prototype dish CETC-54 factory engineering computing and the subsequent development on-site in South Africa. science diplomacy in Shijiazhuang, of new technologies, cloud processing, data Credit: SARAO China. Credit: Partnerships between institutes, universities Global collaboration is at the heart of the SKA Organisation and industry have already formed to build analysis and visualisation tools are likely to SKA Observatory. The project is unique and plan the scientific exploitation of the yield substantial benefits in other areas of among major research infrastructures telescopes, their systems and instruments.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Report on the Radionet3 Networking Activity
    REPORT ON THE RADIONET3 NETWORKING ACTIVITY TITLE: LOFAR SCIENCE WEEK 2014 A JOINT MEETING COMBINING THE “2014 LOFAR COMMUNITY SCIENCE WORKSHOP” AND A SEPARATE, RELATED SYMPOSIUM ON “FIRST SCIENCE WITH LOFAR’S FIRST ALL-SKY SURVEY” DATE: 7 APRIL – 11 APRIL 2014 TIME: ALL DAY LOCATION: AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS MEETING WEBPAGE http://www.astron.nl/lofarscience2014/ HOST INSTITUTE: ASTRON (NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE FOR RADIO ASTRONOMY) PARTICIPANTS NO: 105 (COMMUNITY WORKSHOP) / 62 (SURVEY WORKSHOP) MAIN LEADER: ASTRON Project supported by the European Commission Contract no.: 283393 REPORT: 1. Agenda of the meeting The final programmes for both of the workshops are reproduced in their entirety in Appendix A. The programs and presentations are also available from the conference website. 2. Scientific Summary The LOFAR Science Week for 2014 was held April 7-11, 2014 in Amsterdam, NL and brought together roughly 120 members of the LOFAR science community. The week began on Monday afternoon with a LOFAR Users Meeting, open to the whole LOFAR community, organized by ASTRON and intended to provide a forum for users to both learn about the status of the array as well as provide feedback. Members of ASTRON gave updates on the current operational status, ongoing developments, and plans for the coming year. Representative users from the community were also invited to share their personal experiences from using the system. Robert Pizzo and the Science Support team were on hand to answer questions and gathered a lot of good feedback that they will use to improve the user experience for LOFAR. The User’s Meeting was followed on Tuesday by a two day LOFAR Community Science Workshop where nearly 120 members of the LOFAR collaboration came together to present their latest science results and share ideas and experiences about doing science with LOFAR.
    [Show full text]
  • Planck 2011 Conference the Millimeter And
    PLANCK 2011 CONFERENCE THE MILLIMETER AND SUBMILLIMETER SKY IN THE PLANCK MISSION ERA 10-14 January 2011 Paris, Cité des Sciences Monday, January 10th 2011 13:00 Registration 14:00 Claudie Haigneré (Présidente of Universcience) Welcome Planck mission status, Performances, Cross-calibration Jan Tauber (ESA) - Jean-Loup Puget (IAS Orsay) - Reno Mandolesi (INAF/IASF Bologna) Introduction Session chair: François Pajot 14:20 François Bouchet (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris) 30+5' HFI data and performance (invited on Planck early paper) 14:55 Marco Bersanelli (University of Milano) 30+5' LFI data and performance (invited on Planck early paper) 15:30 Ranga Chary (IPAC Caltech) 30+5' Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue (invited on Planck early paper) 16:05 Coffee break 16:30 Goran Pilbratt (European Space Agency) 20+5' The Herschel observatory (invited) Radio sources 16:55 Bruce Partridge (Haverford College) 25+5' Overview (invited) 17:25 Luigi Tofolatti (Universidad de Oviedo) 20+5' Planck radio sources statistics (invited on Planck early paper) 17:50 Francisco Argueso (Universidad de Oviedo) 15+5' A Bayesian technique to detect point sources in CMB maps 18:10 Anna Scaife (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) 15+5' The 10C survey of Radio Sources - First Results 18:30 End of day 1 19:00 Welcome reception at the Conference Center Tuesday, January 11th 2011 Radio sources (continued) Session chair: Bruce Partridge 9:00 Anne Lahteenmaki (Aalto University Metsahovi Radio Observatory) 20+5' Planck observations of extragalactic radio
    [Show full text]
  • Probing Galaxy Halos Using Background Polarized Radio Sources
    Probing galaxy halos using background polarized radio sources Master’s thesis in Physics and Astronomy ANTON NILSSON Department of Earth and Space Sciences CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Gothenburg, Sweden 2016 Probing galaxy halos using background polarized radio sources Anton Nilsson Department of Earth and Space Sciences Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics group Chalmers University of Technology Gothenburg, Sweden 2016 Probing galaxy halos using background polarized radio sources Anton Nilsson © Anton Nilsson, 2016. Supervisor: Cathy Horellou, Department of Earth and Space Sciences Examiner: Cathy Horellou, Department of Earth and Space Sciences Department of Earth and Space Sciences Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics group Chalmers University of Technology SE-412 96 Gothenburg Telephone +46 31 772 1000 Cover: Polarized emission of the radio source J133920+464115 at Faraday depth +20.75 rad m−2 in grayscale. The contours show the total intensity. Typeset in LATEX Printed by Chalmers Reproservice Gothenburg, Sweden 2016 iv Probing galaxy halos using background polarized radio sources Anton Nilsson Department of Earth and Space Sciences Chalmers University of Technology Abstract Linearly polarized radio emission from synchrotron sources undergoes Faraday ro- tation when passing through a magneto-ionized medium. This might be used to search for evidence of ionized halos around galaxies, using polarized radio sources as a probe. In this thesis I analyze the polarization properties of background radio sources from the Taylor et al. (2009) catalog based on observations with the Very Large Array, and correlate these to the angular separation between the radio sources and foreground galaxies. I find a decrease in the amount of polarized radio sources near the galaxies, interpreting this as radio sources being depolarized by galaxy halos.
    [Show full text]
  • OTFM for Fast Mapping & Rapid Data Products
    OTFM for fast mapping & rapid data products Steven T. Myers (NRAO) for the VLASS team 1 B&E Caltech July 2016 The VLA Sky Survey (VLASS) On-the-fly Mosaicking (OTFM) for efficient fast mapping of the sky and pipelines for rapid genera=on of Data Products … wherein we elucidate the sundry benefits of using the recently upgraded Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array to survey large areas of the sky to discover new transient phenomena and illuminate heretofore hidden explosions throughout the Universe, and to explore cosmic magnetism h0ps://science.nrao.edu/science/surveys/vlass 2 B&E Caltech July 2016 Why a new VLA Sky Survey? A New VLA deserves a New Sky Survey https://science.nrao.edu/science/surveys/vlass • Expanded (bandwidth, time resolution) capabilities of Jansky VLA • 20 years since previous pioneering VLA sky surveys – NVSS 45” 1.4GHz (84MHz) 450µJy/bm (2932hrs) 30Kdeg2 2Msrcs – FIRST 5” 1.4GHz (84MHz) 150µJy/bm (3200hrs) 10.6Kdeg2 95Ksrcs • Preparing the way for a new generation of surveys – ASKAP and MeerKAT – SKA phase 1 – new O/IR surveys (i/zPTF, PanSTARRS,DES,LSST), X-ray (eROSITA) • Science Proposal and survey definition by community Survey Science Group (SSG) following AAS 223 workshop in Jan 2014 – community review and approval in March 2015 3 B&E Caltech July 2016 VLASS Survey Science Group A Survey For the Whole Community Proposal Authors: Table 8: VLASS Proposal Contributors, Including VLASS White Paper Authors F. Abdalla, Jose Afonso, A. Amara, David Bacon, Julie Banfield, Tim Bastian, Richard Battye, Stefi A. Baum, Tony Beasley, Rainer Beck, Robert Becker, Michael Bell, Edo Berger, Rob Beswick, Sanjay Bhat- nagar, Mark Birkinshaw, V.
    [Show full text]
  • Square Kilometre Array: Processing Voluminous Meerkat Data on IRIS
    SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY :PROCESSING VOLUMINOUS MEERKAT DATA ON IRIS Priyaa Thavasimani Anna Scaife Faculty of Science and Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering The University of Manchester The University of Manchester Manchester, UK Manchester, UK [email protected] [email protected] June 1, 2021 ABSTRACT Processing astronomical data often comes with huge challenges with regards to data management as well as data processing. MeerKAT telescope is one of the precursor telescopes of the World’s largest observatory Square Kilometre Array. So far, MeerKAT data was processed using the South African computing facility i.e. IDIA, and exploited to make ground-breaking discoveries. However, to process MeerKAT data on UK’s IRIS computing facility requires new implementation of the MeerKAT pipeline. This paper focuses on how to transfer MeerKAT data from the South African site to UK’s IRIS systems for processing. We discuss about our RapifXfer Data transfer framework for transferring the MeerKAT data from South Africa to the UK, and the MeerKAT job processing framework pertaining to the UK’s IRIS resources. Keywords Big Data · MeerKAT · Square Kilometre Array · Telescope · Data Analysis · Imaging Introduction The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the world’s largest telescope, but once built it comes with its huge data challenges. The SKA instrument sites are in Australia and South Africa. This paper focuses on the South African SKA precursor MeerKAT, in particular on its data processing, calibration, and imaging using the UK IRIS resources. MeerKAT data are initially hosted by IDIA (Inter-University Institute for Data-Intensive Astronomy; [1]), which itself provides data storage and a data-intensive research cloud facility to service the MeerKAT science community in South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Data Science for Physics and Astronomy Lightning Talks Data Science for Physics & Astronomy Classification of Transients Catarina Alves
    Data science for Physics and Astronomy Lightning talks Data science for Physics & Astronomy Classification of transients Catarina Alves PhD @ Supervisors: ● Prof Hiranya Peiris ● Dr Jason McEwen [email protected] Supervised Learning Classification Unbalanced data Non representative data catarina-alves Catarina-Alves Unsupervised Learning Real time classification Anomaly detection Large datasets 2 Data science for Physics & Astronomy Adrian Bevan Particle physics experimentalist with a keen interest in DS & AI Parameter estimation: ● 2 decades of likelihood fitting experience spanning NA48, BaBar and ATLAS experiments; currently using ML on the ATLAS and MoEDAL experiments @ LHC. ● Latest relevant work: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2019.0392 Machine learning: ● Broad interest in algorithms: domains of validity to understand what to use when and why to optimise the use of algorithms for a given problem domain. Have used SVMs, BDTs, MLPs, CNNs, Deep Networks, KNN for analysis work. ● Working on understanding why algorithms make a given inference or decision based on input feature space (explainability and interpretability). ● Want to explore unsupervised learning and bayesian networks when an appropriate problem presents itself. Have taught or currently teach data science and machine learning undergrad and grad courses. [email protected] 3 Data science for Physics & Astronomy David Berman 4 Data science for Physics & Astronomy Richard Bielby 5 Data science for Nachiketa Chakraborty Physics & Astronomy
    [Show full text]
  • The Very Small Array: Latest Results and Future Plans
    The Very Small Array: latest results and future plans Keith Grainge Astrophysics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge Rencontres de Moriond, 31 March 2004 OVERVIEW The Very Small Array (VSA) • Current primordial observations • The S-Z effect • Planned upgrades to the instrument • Future science at high ` • Summary • 1 THE VSA CONSORTIUM Cavendish Astrophysics Group Roger Boysen Tony Brown Chris Clementson Mike Crofts Jerry Czeres Roger Dace Keith Grainge (PM) Mike Hobson (PI) Mike Jones Rüdiger Kneissl Katy Lancaster Anthony Lasenby Klaus Maisinger Ian Northrop Guy Pooley Vic Quy Nutan Rajguru Ben Rusholme Richard Saunders Richard Savage Anna Scaife Jack Schofield Paul Scott (Former PI) Clive Shaw Anze Slosar Angela Taylor David Titterington Elizabeth Waldram Brian Wood Jodrell Bank Observatory Colin Baines Richard Battye Eddie Blackhurst Pedro Carreira Kieran Cleary Rod Davies Richard Davis Clive Dickinson Yaser Hafez Mark Polkey Bob Watson Althea Wilkinson Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias Jose Alberto Rubiño-Martin Carlos Guiterez Rafa Rebolo Lopez Pedro Sosa-Molina Ricardo Genova-Santos 2 THE VERY SMALL ARRAY (VSA) Sited on Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife • 14 antennas 91 baselines • ) Observing frequency ν = 26 36 GHz; bandwidth ∆ν = 1:5 GHz • − Compact configuration: 143 mm horns; ` = 150 800; ∆` 90 (without • − ≈ mosaicing); Sept 2000 – Sept 2001 Extended configuration: 322 mm horns; ` = 300 1800; ∆` 200 (without • − ≈ mosaicing); Sept 2001 – present 3 COMPARISON WITH OTHER CMB EXPERIMENTS Different systematics from “single-dish” experiments: • – negligible pointing error – negligible beam uncertainty Different from other CMB interferometers (DASI, CBI): • – RT survey and dedicated source subtraction 2-element interferometer remove effect of extragalactic point sources ) – tracking elements rather than comounted can apply fringe rate filter to remove unwanted signals.
    [Show full text]
  • Researcher Exchanges in Radio Astronomy – University of Manchester Projects January 2019
    Researcher Exchanges in Radio Astronomy – University of Manchester projects January 2019 1. Unveiling star formation across cosmic time: Predictions for the SKA Supervisor: Dr Rowan Smith The SKA will revolutionise our understanding of how galaxies form and transform their gas into stars by mapping HI 21cm line emission with exquisite detail and sensitivity. With the SKA it will be possible to peer back across cosmic time and study the interstellar medium (ISM) in a whole range of galaxy types and metallicities, including irregular dwarf galaxies such as those found in the early universe. However, to truly unlock the power of such observations it is crucial to have similarly advanced models to compare the data too. In this project we will use cutting edge simulations of the ISM in different galaxy types with the Arepo MHD code to study where atomic hydrogen gas is located and when it transforms into molecular H2. The simulations are resolved down to sub-pc scales and include a detailed model of the chemistry of the warm and cold gas. Using these simulations we will perform post-process radiative transfer simulations with the Polaris and LIME codes to predict the HI emission that would be seen from different galaxy types with the SKA. In order to get a full view of the gas life-cycle in such galaxies we will then also calculate the molecular gas emission that would be seen in CO with ALMA, and the CII emission that could be seen in nearby galaxies with SOFIA. Using our simulations and these synthetic emission maps we will aim to make testable predictions about the evolution of galaxies from low-metallicity dwarfs, to grand design spirals, to star-burst galaxies and how they transform their gas into stars.
    [Show full text]
  • Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array
    Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array 8-13 June 2014 Giardini Naxos, Italy #skascicon14 Abstracts Book ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA INAF NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ASTROPHYSICS SESSION 1: Chair – Jonathan Pritchard The Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionisation with SKA Leon Koopmans1;*, and the EoR Working Group 1 Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands * Presenter E-mail contact: koopmans at astro.rug.nl Concerted effort is currently ongoing to open up the Epoch of Reionization (z 15- Ø 6) for studies with IR and radio telescopes. Whereas IR detections have been made of sources (Ly- emitters, quasars and drop-outs) in this redshift regime, in relatively small fields of view, no direct detection of neutral hydrogen via the redshifted 21-cm line has yet been established. Such a direct detection is expected in the coming years with ongoing surveys and will open up the entire universe from z 6-200 for astrophysical Ø and cosmological studies, opening not only the EoR, but also its preceding Cosmic Dawn (z 40-15) and possibly even the later phases of the Dark Ages (z 200-40), leaving Ø Ø only the “Age of Ignorance” (z 1100-200) inaccessible to astronomers. All currently Ø ongoing experiments attempt statistical detections of the 21-cm signal during the EoR, with limited signal-tonoise. Direct imaging, except maybe on the largest (degree) scales at lower redshift, will remain out of reach. The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), however, will revolutionize the field, and allow direct imaging of neutral hydrogen from scales of arc-minutes to degrees over most of the redshift range z 6-30.
    [Show full text]
  • Convening Innovators from the Science and Technology Communities Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2014
    Global Agenda Convening Innovators from the Science and Technology Communities Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2014 Tianjin, People’s Republic of China 10-12 September Discoveries in science and technology are arguably the greatest agent of change in the modern world. While never without risk, these technological innovations can lead to solutions for pressing global challenges such as providing safe drinking water and preventing antimicrobial resistance. But lack of investment, outmoded regulations and public misperceptions prevent many promising technologies from achieving their potential. In this regard, we have convened leaders from across the science and technology communities for the Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions – the foremost global gathering on innovation, entrepreneurship and technology. More than 1,600 leaders from business, government and research from over 90 countries will participate in 100- plus interactive sessions to: – Contribute breakthrough scientific ideas and innovations transforming economies and societies worldwide – Catalyse strategic and operational agility within organizations with respect to technological disruption – Connect with the next generation of research pioneers and business W. Lee Howell Managing Director innovators reshaping global, industry and regional agendas Member of the Managing Board World Economic Forum By convening leaders from science and technology under the auspices of the Forum, we aim to: – Raise awareness of the promise of scientific research and highlight the increasing importance of R&D efforts – Inform government and industry leaders about what must be done to overcome regulatory and institutional roadblocks to innovation – Identify and advocate new models of collaboration and partnership that will enable new technologies to address our most pressing challenges We hope this document will help you contribute to these efforts by introducing to you the experts and innovators assembled in Tianjin and their fields of research.
    [Show full text]
  • Rapidxfer: Proposed Data Transfer Framework for Square Kilometre Array
    RapidXfer: Proposed Data Transfer Framework for Square Kilometre Array - Dr Priyaa Thavasimani, Prof Anna Scaife, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, The University of Manchester Introduction to SKA • World's largest radio telescope project – sites Australia (ASKAP) and South Africa (MeerKAT) - integrated into Phase 1 of SKA. • The volume of telescope data is vast. • data rate as approximately 23 Tb/s from the antennas to the correlator, 14 Tb/s from the correlator to the HPC (provided by SDP). • Expected volume of data to partner countries – 600 PB / year • 15 member countries. What is MeerKAT? • Karoo Array Telescope • radio telescope consisting of 64 antennas in the Northern Cape of South Africa, inaugurated in 13 July 2018. • a precursor for the SKA MeerKAT Data transfer from IDIA to IRIS • IDIA (Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy) intends to provide researchers from South Africa with cloud resources to process Astronomical Big Data. • IRIS funded by the STFC (one of research council in UKRI) - create and develop the digital research infrastructure - computing related resources needed to support science. • Datasets (of 1.3 TB approx each) to be transferred from IDIA to IRIS. • Globus online – secure, reliable service, enables you to share and transfer files faster than traditional scp and rsync transfers. Containerised DiRAC Environment on IDIA • SKA UK is currently using WLCG DMS/WMS services in particular DiRAC. • Containerised DiRAC Environment on IDIA • dirac-dms-add-file functionality facilitates transfer of smaller files. RapidXfer - Data Transfer and Processing Framework Globus Transfer of 1.33 TB Data Data Transfer Speed from IDIA to IRIS (Approximate Calculation) • (Globus transfer) 1 TB = 18.79 hours Gfal-copy = 0.829 hours Total = 19.56 hours Total Data rate: 14.20 MB/sec Note: Represents average repeatable performance, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Imaging Challenges & Pilot Survey
    Imaging Challenges & Pilot Survey Steven T. Myers (NRAO) 1 VLASS – CALIM Oct 2016 Why a new VLA Sky Survey? A New VLA deserves a New Sky Survey https://science.nrao.edu/science/surveys/vlass • Expanded (bandwidth, time/freq resolution) capabilities of JVLA – 24x instanteous continuum bandwidth 84MHz 2048MHz • 20 years since previous pioneering VLA sky surveys – NVSS 45” 1.4GHz (84MHz) 450µJy/bm (2932hrs) 30Kdeg2 2Msrcs – FIRST 5” 1.4GHz (84MHz) 150µJy/bm (3200hrs) 10.6Kdeg2 95Ksrcs • Preparing the way for a new generation of surveys – ASKAP / MeerKAT / Apertif – SKA phase 1 – new O/IR surveys (i/zPTF, PanSTARRS,DES,LSST), X-ray (eROSITA) 2 VLASS – CALIM Oct 2016 VLASS Survey Science Group A Survey For the Whole Community Proposal Authors: Table 8: VLASS Proposal Contributors, Including VLASS White Paper Authors F. Abdalla, Jose Afonso, A. Amara, David Bacon, Julie Banfield, Tim Bastian, Richard Battye, Stefi A. Baum, Tony Beasley, Rainer Beck, Robert Becker, Michael Bell, Edo Berger, Rob Beswick, Sanjay Bhat- nagar, Mark Birkinshaw, V. Boehm, Geoff Bower, Niel W. Brandt, A. Brazier, Sarah Bridle, Michael Brotherton, Alex Brown, Michael L. Brown, Shea Brown, Ian Browne, Gianfranco Brunetti, Sarah Burke Spolaor, Ettore Carretti, Caitlin Casey, Sayan Chakraborti, Claire J. Chandler, Shami Chatterjee, Tracy Clarke, Julia Comerford, Jim Cordes, Bill Cotton, Fronefield Crawford, Daniele Dallacasa, Constantinos Science Proposal and Demetroullas, Susana E. Deustua, Mark Dickinson, Klaus Dolag, Sean Dougherty, Steve Drake, Alas- survey definion by tair Edge, Torsten Ensslin, Andy Fabian, Xiaohui Fan, Jamie Farnes, Luigina Feretti, Pedro Ferreira, Dale Frail, Bryan Gaensler, Simon Garrington, Joern Geisbuesch, Simona Giacintucci, Adam Ginsburg, Gabriele community Survey Giovannini, Eilat Glikman, Federica Govoni, Keith Grainge, Meghan Gray, Dave Green, Manuel Guedel, Science Group (SSG) Nicole E.
    [Show full text]