LOFAR calibration and wide-field imaging
Other text in scientific journal, 2012
LOFAR is a revolutionary instrument, operating at low frequencies (nu less than or similar to 240 MHz). It will drive major breakthroughs in the area of observational cosmology, but its use requires the development of challenging techniques and algorithms. Since its field of view and sensitivity are increased by orders of magnitude as compared to the older generation of instruments, new technical problems have to be addressed. The LOFAR survey team is in charge of commissioning the first LOFAR data produced in the imager mode as part of building the imaging pipeline. We are developing algorithms to tackle the problems associated with calibration (ionosphere, beam, etc.) and wide-field imaging for the achievement of the deep extragalactic surveys. New types of problems arise in that context, and notions such as algorithmic complexity and parallelism become fundamental.
Calibration
Interferometry
Imaging
LOFAR
Author
C. Tasse
Observatoire de Paris-Meudon
G. van Diepen
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
S. van der Tol
Leiden University
R. J. van Weeren
Leiden University
J. E. van Zwieten
Leiden University
Fabien Batejat
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory
S. Bhatnagar
National Radio Astronomy Observatory Socorro
I. van Bemmel
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
L. Birzan
Leiden University
A. Bonafede
Istituto di Radioastronomia
John Conway
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory
C. Ferrari
Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur
F. De Gasperin
Max Planck Society
K. Golap
National Radio Astronomy Observatory Socorro
G. Heald
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
N. Jackson
University of Manchester
G. Macario
Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur
J. McKean
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
N. R. Mohan
Leiden University
E. Orru
University of Groningen
R. Pizzo
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
D. Rafferty
Leiden University
U. Rau
National Radio Astronomy Observatory Socorro
H. Rottgering
Leiden University
A. Shulevski
University of Groningen
Comptes Rendus Physique
1631-0705 (ISSN) 18781535 (eISSN)
Vol. 13 1 28-32Subject Categories
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
DOI
10.1016/j.crhy.2011.10.006