LOFAR: The low-frequency array
Reviewartikel, 2013

LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10-240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR's new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory. © ESO 2013.

Dark ages, reionization, first stars

Radio lines: General

Radio continuum: General

Telescopes

Instrumentation: Interferometers

Författare

M. P. van Haarlem

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. W. Wise

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A.W. Gunst

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

G. Heald

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. McKean

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. W. T. Hessels

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. G. de Bruyn

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. Nijboer

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Swinbank

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

R. A. Fallows

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Brentjens

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Nelles

Radboud Universiteit

R. Beck

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

H.D. Falcke

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. P. Fender

University of Southampton

J.R. Hörandel

Radboud Universiteit

L.V.E. Koopmans

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

G. Mann

Leibniz-Institut Für Astrophysik Potsdam

G. Miley

Universiteit Leiden

H. Rottgering

Universiteit Leiden

B.W. Stappers

University of Manchester

Ramj Wijers

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

S. Zaroubi

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

M. Van Den Akker

Radboud Universiteit

A. Alexov

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

J. M. Anderson

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

K. Anderson

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

Arnold van Ardenne

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Chalmers, Rymd- och geovetenskap, Onsala rymdobservatorium

M. J. Arts

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Asgekar

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

I.M. Avruch

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Fabien Batejat

Astronomi och plasmafysik

L. Bähren

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

M.E. Bell

University of Southampton

M. R. Bell

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

I. van Bemmel

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

P. Bennema

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. J. Bentum

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

G. Bernardi

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

P.N. Best

University of Edinburgh

L. Birzan

Universiteit Leiden

A. Bonafede

Jacobs University Bremen

A.J. Boonstra

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. Braun

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

J. Bregman

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

F. Breitling

Leibniz-Institut Für Astrophysik Potsdam

R.H. Van De Brink

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J.W. Broderick

University of Southampton

P.C. Broekema

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

W. N. Brouw

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Brueggen

Universität Hamburg

H. R. Butcher

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

W. van Cappellen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

B. Ciardi

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

T. Coenen

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

John Conway

Chalmers, Rymd- och geovetenskap, Onsala rymdobservatorium

A. H.W.M. Coolen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Corstanje

Radboud Universiteit

Sieds Damstra

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

O. Davies

STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

A. Deller

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. -J. Dettmar

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

G. van Diepen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

K. Dijkstra

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

P. Donker

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Doorduin

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Dromer

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Drost

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Van Duin

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Eisloffel

Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg

J. Van Enst

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

C. Ferrari

Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur

W. Frieswijk

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

H. Gankema

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

M. A. Garrett

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

F. De Gasperin

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

M. Gerbers

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

E. de Geus

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J.M. Grießmeier

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

T. Grit

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

P. Gruppen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J.P. Hamaker

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

T. E. Hassall

University of Manchester

M. Hoeft

Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg

H. Holties

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Horneffer

Radboud Universiteit

A. J. van der Horst

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

A. Van Houwelingen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Huijgen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Iacobelli

Universiteit Leiden

H. T. Intema

Universiteit Leiden

N. Jackson

University of Manchester

V. Jelić

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. De Jong

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

E. Juette

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

D. Kant

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Karastergiou

University of Oxford

A. Koers

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

H. Kollen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

V.I. Kondratiev

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

E. Kooistra

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Y. Koopman

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Koster

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Kuniyoshi

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

M. Kramer

University of Manchester

G. Kuper

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

P. Lambropoulos

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

C. Law

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

J. van Leeuwen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Lemaitre

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Loose

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

P. Maat

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

G. Macario

Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur

S. Markoff

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

J. Masters

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

R. McFadden

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

D. McKay-Bukowski

STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

H. Meijering

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

H. Meulman

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Mevius

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

E. Middelberg

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

R. Millenaar

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. C. A. Miller-Jones

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

R.N. Mohan

Universiteit Leiden

J.D. Mol

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Morawietz

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. Morganti

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

D. D. Mulcahy

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

E. Mulder

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

H. Munk

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

L. Nieuwenhuis

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. Van Nieuwpoort

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. E. Noordam

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. J. Norden

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. Noutsos

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

A. R. Offringa

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Hans Olofsson

Astronomi och plasmafysik

A. Omar

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

E. Orrú

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. E. Overeem

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

H. Paas

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

M. Pandey-Pommier

Universiteit Leiden

V. N. Pandey

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

R. Pizzo

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A.G. Polatidis

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

D. Rafferty

Universiteit Leiden

S. Rawlings

University of Oxford

W. Reich

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

J. P. de Reijer

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Reitsma

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

G.A. Renting

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

P. Riemers

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

E. Rol

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

J. W. Romein

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Roosjen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Mark Ruiter

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. M. M. Scaife

University of Southampton

K. Van Der Schaaf

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

B. Scheers

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

Pim Schellart

Radboud Universiteit

A. P. Schoenmakers

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

G. Schoonderbeek

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Serylak

Universite d'Orleans

A. Shulevski

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

J. Sluman

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

O. Smirnov

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

C. Sobey

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

H. Spreeuw

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy

M. Steinmetz

Leibniz-Institut Für Astrophysik Potsdam

C.G.M. Sterks

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

H.-J. Stiepel

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

K. J.C. Stuurwold

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. Tagger

Universite d'Orleans

Y. Tang

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

C. Tasse

LESIA - Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique

I. Thomas

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

S. Thoudam

Radboud Universiteit

M. C. Toribio

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

B. van der Tol

Universiteit Leiden

O. Usov

Universiteit Leiden

M. Van Veelen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A.-J. Van Der Veen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

S. ter Veen

Radboud Universiteit

J. P.W. Verbiest

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

R. Vermeulen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

N. Vermaas

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

C. Vocks

Leibniz-Institut Für Astrophysik Potsdam

C. Vogt

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

M. De Vos

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

E. Van Der Wal

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. van Weeren

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

H. Weggemans

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

P. Weltevrede

University of Manchester

S. White

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

S. J. Wijnholds

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

T. Wilhelmsson

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

O. Wucknitz

Universität Bonn

S. Yatawatta

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

P.M. Zarka

LESIA - Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique

A.J. Zensus

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

J. E. van Zwieten

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 556 A2

Ämneskategorier

Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2022-12-20