John Bunton (CSIRO)

Abstract: ASKAP currently has a survey speed that is similar to MeerKAT. In the SKA era, it will become uncompetitive. Currently, research on a better-performing PAF is being undertaken. But a full upgrade would be some years in the future. In the 2021 paper on ASKAP it was mentioned that an increase in dish diameter from 12 to 15m had been investigated but the implementation was not feasible. Here a 17m design is described which solves all the problems blocking implementation:

The 17m design is lighter than the original 15m design

A solution to the problem of counterbalancing the added weight has been found

It is found 17m dish can operate in a mode that is compatible with the current 12 dish. There will be no loss of time for the surveys while the upgrade is implemented.

Estimates show the upgrade increases sensitivity by 2.14, survey speed by 2.29 and FRB detection rate by 1.56. With sufficient effort, all this could be implemented within a one-year time frame at a cost of about A$1 million.