SKA supplementary funds
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
This grant provides supplementary funds to the University of Oxford's development work on the Square Kilometr Array project. The funds will be used to engage industrial contractors on key aspects of the system design.
Planned Impact
These funds will generate impact in the industrial sector both immediately and over the longer term. The funds will be used to enage companies to do contract design work for the SKA project, a direct economic impact. Under the SKA IP policy, these companies will also be free to exploit the IP generated in their other business, resulting in further impact. The work will also require the academic side of the project to work closely with industry. This is likely to generate further ideas and potential collaborations and spin-out activities.
Publications
Brook P
(2015)
Emission-rotation correlation in pulsars: new discoveries with optimal techniques
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Karastergiou A
(2015)
Limits on fast radio bursts at 145 MHz with artemis, a real-time software backend
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pellegrini Alice
(2020)
MID-Radio Telescope, Single Pixel Feed Packages for the Square Kilometre Array: An Overview
in arXiv e-prints
| Description | This award has resulted in the development of a novel multi-frequency feed system for the SKA, which will provide most of the frequency coverage of the SKA-Mid array, enabling a wide range of science once the telescope is completed. |
| Exploitation Route | These receiver designs are potentially of interest in the satellite communications industry. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | This award was used to fund the initial development of the Band 345 receiver system for SKA. As a result a UK company (Oxford Cryosystems Ltd) has become the baseline supplier of cryogenic systems for the SKA project with a likely significant economic impact to the company. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Square Kilometre Array Preconstruction Phase |
| Amount | £3,387,571 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/M001423/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2013 |
| End | 09/2016 |
| Description | SKA Dish Consortium |
| Organisation | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | CSIRO leads the SKA Dish consortium which is designing the dish antennas and receivers for the SKA. Oxford is leading the design of one of the receiver packages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Other consortium members are designing the dish antennas and other receiver packages. |
| Impact | SKA internal project documents |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Title | SKA cryogenic receiver |
| Description | A multi-feed receiver with low noise, high efficiency when installed on a suitable antenna, low power consumption and low manufacturing costs. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Potential for UK manufacture for the SKA. |
| Description | Oxford Astrophysics Stargazing event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Oxford Astrophysics holds an annual 'Stargazing' public event with ~500 attendees. Staff from this research project take part in talks and demonstrations explaining the SKA project and astrophysics in general to the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
| Description | SKA stand at Bluedot Festival, Jodrell Bank |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of our research group staffed an SKA stall at the Bluedot Festival (music/science) at Jodrell Bank in 2016 and 2017. They explained the SKA project and astronomy in general to members of the public (several hundred encounters from the ~5000 people attending the festival). Our staff reported strong interest and appreciation from the members of the public they spoke to. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |