Rick Perley (NRAO)

The Expanded Very Large Array - Rick Perley Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

The EVLA project is a $90M upgrade of the Very Large Array which will multiply its scientific capabilities at least tenfold. Begun in 2000,
the project will be completed by the end of 2012. Key goals for the project include: Complete frequency coverage from 1 to 50 GHz with maximum instantaneous bandwidth of up to 8 GHz; all-digital fiber-optic signal transmission from the antennas to optimize stability; a wide-bandwidth full-polarization correlator which will
enable extraordinarily flexible observing modes.

EVLA construction continues to progress well. All 28 antennas have
been upgraded to modern standards, and about half of the 228 wideband
cryogenically cooled receivers are now installed. The WIDAR
correlator is now completed, and 2 GHz-wide data are now available for
testing purposes.

In this talk I will review the status of the project and the unique
observational capabilities that the EVLA can now offer via the `OSRO'
and `RSRO' programs. Examples of early science which demonstrate the
potential of the completed project will be shown. The EVLA's
capabilities will rapidly rise over time as the WIDAR correlator is
brought to its full capability. However, the scientific productivity
of the array will be set to a significant degreee by our ability to
record, distribute, calibrate, and image the multi-TB datasets
generated by the correlator -- these are the major challenges for the
future, and I will spend some time on the observatory's plans to meet
them.