SKA Construction
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Building "SKA1" is the current primary objective of the SKA Observatory (SKAO) Construction Project. It will result in two of the world's largest radio telescopes with sensitivity, angular resolution, and survey speeds far surpassing current state-of-the-art instruments at relevant radio frequencies. The step change in sensitivity and unrivaled survey speed compared to any current radio telescopes will deliver transformational science. It will address fundamental unanswered questions about our Universe including how the first stars and galaxies formed after the big bang, how dark energy is accelerating the expansion of the Universe, the role of magnetism in the cosmos, the nature of gravity, and the search for life beyond Earth.
The two telescopes of the SKAO will be the SKA-MID telescope to be constructed in South Africa and the SKA-LOW telescope to be constructed in Australia. SKA-MID will include 133 steerable dishes 15m in diameter in combination with 64 dishes from the MeerKAT precursor instrument. SKA-LOW will consist of 131,072 new fixed log periodic antennas. Both telescopes require huge digital systems to process the extreme rates of raw data into science outputs, and also to control and manage the telescope in real-time.
The research under this grant, to be undertaken in collaboration with international partners and industry, builds on previous UK investments and is part of the allocated SKA work return for the UK. It includes:
- Software development (including simulations and modelling) for SKA1 Science Data Processing and Handling (SDH&P). This is composed of the Science Data Processor (SDP) and Pulsar Search Sub-element (PSS) activities. The SDP is the element of the telescope responsible for the processing of various observed data into required data products (a data product consists of combined and processed raw data together with metadata), the long term preservation of these data products, and the delivery of these products to the SKA Observatory, and delivery to scientists working in SKA Regional Centres (SRCs). The PSS is the component of the SKAO that will enable the search of the entire sky visible from each telescope site for pulsars and time-domain transients.
- Software development in support of Observatory Management and Control (OMC). This includes Observatory Science Operations (OSO) software required to manage SKA observations and the observatory workflow. Major software applications classified as OSO software include the applications used by astronomers for proposal submission and observation design. Major OSO software used by observatory staff include applications for proposal handling and tracking, and for observation scheduling and execution. Underlying these applications are the OSO database systems that provide persistence and enable the project workflow between the applications. Also included in this activity is the software required for the monitoring, control and calibration interface between the SKA's Telescope Manager (TM), Observation Execution Tool (OET) and the front end of the LOW telescope.
- Supporting Timing and Clocks: This activity will provide scientific, technology, engineering and project management advisory services related to the construction of the SKA-MID and SKA-LOW telescope Synchronisation and Timing (SAT) Elements. SAT functionality and performance affects the ultimate performance of the telescopes therefore it is vital that the 'as built' SAT Element meets the SAT functionality and performance requirements intended by the reference designs.
The two telescopes of the SKAO will be the SKA-MID telescope to be constructed in South Africa and the SKA-LOW telescope to be constructed in Australia. SKA-MID will include 133 steerable dishes 15m in diameter in combination with 64 dishes from the MeerKAT precursor instrument. SKA-LOW will consist of 131,072 new fixed log periodic antennas. Both telescopes require huge digital systems to process the extreme rates of raw data into science outputs, and also to control and manage the telescope in real-time.
The research under this grant, to be undertaken in collaboration with international partners and industry, builds on previous UK investments and is part of the allocated SKA work return for the UK. It includes:
- Software development (including simulations and modelling) for SKA1 Science Data Processing and Handling (SDH&P). This is composed of the Science Data Processor (SDP) and Pulsar Search Sub-element (PSS) activities. The SDP is the element of the telescope responsible for the processing of various observed data into required data products (a data product consists of combined and processed raw data together with metadata), the long term preservation of these data products, and the delivery of these products to the SKA Observatory, and delivery to scientists working in SKA Regional Centres (SRCs). The PSS is the component of the SKAO that will enable the search of the entire sky visible from each telescope site for pulsars and time-domain transients.
- Software development in support of Observatory Management and Control (OMC). This includes Observatory Science Operations (OSO) software required to manage SKA observations and the observatory workflow. Major software applications classified as OSO software include the applications used by astronomers for proposal submission and observation design. Major OSO software used by observatory staff include applications for proposal handling and tracking, and for observation scheduling and execution. Underlying these applications are the OSO database systems that provide persistence and enable the project workflow between the applications. Also included in this activity is the software required for the monitoring, control and calibration interface between the SKA's Telescope Manager (TM), Observation Execution Tool (OET) and the front end of the LOW telescope.
- Supporting Timing and Clocks: This activity will provide scientific, technology, engineering and project management advisory services related to the construction of the SKA-MID and SKA-LOW telescope Synchronisation and Timing (SAT) Elements. SAT functionality and performance affects the ultimate performance of the telescopes therefore it is vital that the 'as built' SAT Element meets the SAT functionality and performance requirements intended by the reference designs.