The Karoo Array Telescope Adrian Tiplady v1.0, v1.1, v2.0, v2.1 …

The Northern Cape

Karoo Array Telescope (KAT v1.0) ParameterValue A20x15m = 3535m 2 T sys 55K MHz  256 MHz Spectral channels65536  min 300 Hz Nominal baseline (max)1500 m Spatial resolution 35” x (1420MHz/) x (1.5km/L) Instantaneous FoV30 deg 2 Post-calibration polarisation purity40 dB 5.1 x (15m/D) 2 x (1420MHz/) 2 deg 2 27 K

Funding South African Treasury has announced additional funding “towards a 10% SKA demonstrator”. –Top-down funding: ZA government desires to create a hub for Southern Hemisphere astronomy. Total ZA investment of  R1b at present. –US$140M –Includes infrastructure at about 25% of total. This will be enough for “few percent” SKA Additional ZA investment will require co- investment from outside –ZA government will match additional funding (or in kind contributions), up to the scale of Big KAT

KAT Meer  More KAT

MeerKAT Partnerships Internationalisation a precondition of new funding. –Direct/in-kind/FTE/IP contributions very welcome. Existing technology partnerships continue. –e.g. CONRAD (AU) & Berkeley (CASPER). Links with SKADS very important. –Particularly DS2 (T1/T2) and DS4 (2-PAD). Science and technology workshops mooted for 2007 –EU, US & ZA in addition to AU MIRANDA meetings. –Open and transparent participation process.

MeerKAT ParameterMeerKAT A>80x15m=14139m 2 (or area equivalent) T sys 27K [GHz] 0.7-3, 8-12  512 MHz Spectral channels65536  min 300 Hz Nominal baseline (max)5 km Spatial resolution 10” x (1420MHz/) x (5km/L) Instantaneous FoV 0.73 x (1420MHz/) 2 x (15m/ D ) 2 deg 2 Post-calibration polarisation purity40 dB Includes planning for mid/low frequency aperture array Maximum baseline not yet settled – imaging vs. point sources Dish diameter not yet settled – cost function dependent on more than just science

KAT to MeerKAT

Cost versus performance Identify and determine coefficients and exponents in cost equation –Dish cost = A  Diam B  freq C –Receiver cost (incl. F) = C  FoV –Correlator cost (X) = D  Nant 2 x FoV –Infrastructure cost = f(Nsta, Filling factor, Baseline, Diam… ) –Lifetime cost = ??? 10% of total capital investment per annum is unreasonable, especially for the SKA System engineering is producing logistics models that will be optimised to reduce lifetime costs Performance metrics –Survey speed –Point source sensitivity –Dynamic range = 5 x= 1 x Savings = 1.5E3 x

MeerKAT Timeline

Science goals for MeerKAT Transients & Pulsars –Transient survey Fast transient real-time detection system Slow transients –Pulsar monitoring/searching Hetrogeneous distribution HI –0<z<1 Molecules –Redshifted CO Cosmic magnetism

MeerKAT… work in progress SA SKA Project Office, Johannesburg KAT Team, Cape Town PED, Cape TownLittle Blue, Cape TownFPA, Test range

MeerKAT… work in progress May 2006November 2005 June 2006September 2006 November 2006

15 Nov Jan Jan 2007 MeerKAT… work in progress 6 Feb Jan February February March March March March 2007

MeerKAT… work in progress

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Software - CONRAD

meerKAT Making MeerKAT happen – implementation through prototypes Pre-production model (PPM) KAT Advanced development model (ADM) Experimental development model (XDM) Production Equivalent demonstrator (PED) 4x3x2 FPA Completed Current Current Future Future FutureFuture SAAO, Cape Town HartRAO HartRAO HartRAO KarooKaroo

Legislation: Astronomy Geographical Advantage Act Empowers the Minister for Science and Technology to declare protected areas around strategic astronomy sites by publication in the Government Gazette. The Act empowers the Minister to prohibit over-flights The Act covers both radio and optical astronomy Three tiers of protected areas: –Core area – the physical area of the observatory / instrument –Central area – surrounds the core area. Minister prohibits certain activities / categories of activities in this area –Coordination area –Minister sets standards which activities must comply with Protected areas apply to existing and new activities

The Northern Cape

RFI Campaign: Reciprocal Sensitivity Prediction

Radio Astronomy Reserve

SA SKA Project Director: Bernie Fanaroff SA SKA Project Scientist: Justin Jonas KAT Project Manager: Anita Loots SA SKA Project Office Tel: