ASKAP telescopes across the landscape

ASKAP Technologies

ASKAP is designed to be a high speed survey instrument with high dynamic range. This requires an extremely wide field-of-view interferometer with Phased Array Feeds (PAFs) consisting of 188 elements, with 96 in each of two polarisations as the focal plane detectors.

The specification for ASKAP is:

  • A total collecting area of approximately 4,000 square metres, from 36 antennas each 12 metres in diameter
  • System temperature less than 50 K
  • Frequency range from 700 MHz to 1.8 GHz
  • 300 MHz instantaneous bandwidth
  • 36 independent beams, each of about 1 square degree, yield overlapping to a 30 square degree field-of-view at 1.4 GHz
  • Maximum baseline of approximately 6 km
  • Full cross-correlation of all antennas
  • Possible remote array station capability located in NSW, approximately 3,000 km from the core site.

 

Technological Goals

The first Phased Array Feed installed on an ASKAP antenna at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. Image courtesy of DIISR.

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

  • 10x10 dual polarisation receivers operating over the frequency range 700 MHz to 1.8 GHz, one in each of 30 parabolic reflector antennas
  • Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and spectral line ripple cancellation using the receiver response
  • RF and IF beam-forming to give extremely wide fields of view
  • High polarisation purity
  • Correlation of large number (in the order 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 instrument's phased array feeds
  • e-VLBI capability over a 3,000 km baseline.

 

Opportunities for Industry

Information on opportunities for industry to be involved in the development of ASKAP can be found on the industry page.

Further Information

 

 

 

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