Abstract

LOFAR initial operations, paving the way for scientific success

Hanno Holties (ASTRON)

M. Wise, R.J. Nijboer, A.W. Gunst (ASTRON)

As hardware is being installed in the field, initial operations of LOFAR, the low frequency radio telescope that is distributed over Europe, is taking shape. Phase I of the rollout comprises the installation of 20 Dutch stations and 3 to 4 European stations by Q2 2009, each equipped with just under 200 radio antennas. All stations are linked to the central processing facilities where bulk data processing is carried out in real time. Large volumes of data are then stored for up to two weeks for further processing before the final data products are being transferred to a distributed long term archive. With this system, the first observing projects exploring the capabilities of LOFAR will be carried out in preparation of the full system coming online later in 2009. Three main observing modes have been selected out of the over ten defined for the full LOFAR and the associated data processing pipelines are currently under construction. These modes of operation cover the main astronomical areas of interest for LOFAR. The MSSS (Million Source Shallow Survey) pipeline will produce images of the sky and it will build up a first global sky model. A tied array mode will investigate high time resolution observation of pulsars and a cosmic ray detection mode will test the capabilities for investigating such high energy events.

Mode of presentation: oral