ASKAP Technology

ASKAP is designed to be a high speed survey instrument with high dynamic range. This requires an extremely wide field-of-view (FoV, approximately 30 sq deg) interferometer comprising up to 40 antennas with phased array feeds, these latter consisting of some 100 elements in each of two polarizations as the focal plane detectors.

The specification for ASKAP is:

Total collecting area ~3500 sq m, from 30-40 antennas, each 12 m diameter
System temperature of 35K
Frequency range 0.7 to 1.8 GHz
Instantaneous bandwidth 300 MHz
At least 30 independent beams, each of ~1 sq deg, yielding ~ 30 sq degrees FoV at 1.4 GHz
Maximum baseline ~6km
Full cross-correlation of all antennas
Possible remote array-station capability located in NSW ~ 3000 km from the core site.

Technological Goals

To achieve the ASKAP specification, the projects's technological goals are to develop:

10x10 dual polarisation receivers operating over the frequency range 700-1800 MHz, one in each of 30 parabolic reflector antennas
RFI and spectral line ripple cancellation using the receiver response
RF and IF beam-forming to give extremely wide fields of view.
High polarization purity
Correlation of large number (of order 30) independent beams
Wide band operation with low RFI levels
Proof of infrastructure in remote desert environment (power supply, on-site data transport)
Cooling of the FPAs
eVLBI capability over 3000 km baseline.

Factsheets

For ASKAP and SKA factsheets see the anzSKA web site.

For more information on industry participation visit the industry page.