1. Engineering and science highlights of the KAT-7 radio telescope
- Author
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W. New, D. Rosekrans, Nadeem Oozeer, F. Curtolo, M. Fijalkowski, S. Seranyane, A. Rust, J. R. Manley, I. P. Theron, N. Marais, A. C. Schröder, P. A. Woudt, R. T. Lord, Sharmila Goedhart, M. S. de Villiers, R. P. M. Julie, B. L. Fanaroff, Rob Fender, G. Coreejes, L. Sofeya, Claude Carignan, D. S. Shepherd, R. Lehmensiek, L. P. Williams, S. J. Marais, O. J. Mokone, Jonathan T. L. Zwart, R. Springbok, P. Gibbs, I. Liebenberg, P. Prozesky, Vanessa A. Moss, J. Horrell, Justin L. Jonas, R. van Rooyen, D. H. Botha, Roy Booth, A. Martens, L. G. Magnus, M. G. Welz, L. Richter, J. A. Malan, Tom Alberts, A. J. Tiplady, S. Mthembu, M. Madlavana, P. P. A. Kotzé, J. Grobbelaar, L. van den Heever, A. Langman, Venkatasubramani L. Thondikulam, S. Rajan, K. Cloete, S. Tshongweni, A. Peens-Hough, P. C. van Niekerk, N. J. Young, P. Herselman, S. J. Buchner, A. L. Walker, P. Macfarlane, F. Kapp, R. P. Armstrong, R. Spann, A. Dikgale, Kelley M. Hess, L. J. du Toit, M. Wolleben, M. Maree, J. Ludick, S. S. Passmoor, R. Siebrits, S. Blose, T. Cheetham, D. George, R. Renil, G. D. Nicholson, L. C. Schwardt, B. S. Frank, P. S. Swart, A. Loots, S. W. P. Esterhuyse, S. Wakhaba, C. J. T. van der Merwe, C. Magozore, T. W. Kusel, S. Ratcliffe, R. C. Crida, S. C. Gumede, M. Serylak, A. R. Foley, H. Bester, J. D. B. L. Jordaan, L. Marais, D. M. Lucero, S. D. Cross, D. Liebenberg, A. Barta, A. B. Pińska, E. F. Bauermeister, Dehann Fourie, O. Toruvanda, N. Hoek, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University ( ANU ), Estrato Research and Development Ltd, Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust [Luxembourg] ( SnT ), Université du Luxembourg ( Uni.lu ), Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication [Luxembourg] ( FSTC ), University of Luxembourg [Luxembourg], Département de Physique [Montréal], Université de Montréal, Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Institute of Human Genetics, Centre for Life, Newcastle University [Newcastle], Développement et Communication Chimique chez les Insectes ( DCCI ), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ) -Université de Bourgogne ( UB ) -AgroSup Dijon - Institut National Supérieur des Sciences Agronomiques, de l'Alimentation et de l'Environnement, Animal Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, University of Southampton (Southampton, UK), Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, Rapita Systems Ltd [York], Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Brain and Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne ( EPFL ), Service d'Explorations fonctionnelles multidisciplinaires [CHU Tenon], CHU Tenon [APHP]-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris - AP-HP (FRANCE), Service d'urologie [Mondor], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP)-Hôpital Henri Mondor-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 ( UPEC UP12 ), OMedical Oncology, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital [London], Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Electrocardiology Section, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Department of Computer and Information Science [Trondheim], Norwegian University of Science and Technology [Trondheim] ( NTNU ), Bordeaux Imaging Center ( BIC ), Université de Bordeaux ( UB ) -Institut François Magendie-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale ( INSERM ) -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), Laboratoire de l'Accélérateur Linéaire ( LAL ), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 ( UP11 ) -Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS ( IN2P3 ) -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), School of Mathematics [Birmingham], University of Birmingham [Birmingham], Institut für Spezielle Botanik und Funktionelle Biodiversität, University of Leipzig, German Aerospace Center ( DLR ), University of the Western Cape, Unité Scientifique de la Station de Nançay ( USN ), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers ( INSU - CNRS ) -Observatoire de Paris-Université d'Orléans ( UO ) -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), Materials Laboratory Rand Afrikaans University, Rand Afrikaans University, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester [Manchester], School of Physics & DST-NRF, University of the Witwatersrand, University of the Witwatersrand [Johannesburg] ( WITS ), University of Southampton, Unité Scientifique de la Station de Nançay (USN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers en région Centre (OSUC), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université d'Orléans (UO), Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics (JBCA), University of the Witwatersrand [Johannesburg] (WITS), and Astronomy
- Subjects
Cryogenic system ,radio continuum: general ,FOS: Physical sciences ,01 natural sciences ,law.invention ,Radio telescope ,Telescope ,Pulsar ,law ,0103 physical sciences ,Very-long-baseline interferometry ,Aerospace engineering ,Open architecture ,instrumentation: interferometers ,010303 astronomy & astrophysics ,Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) ,[ SDU.ASTR ] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph] ,Physics ,Protocol data unit ,010308 nuclear & particles physics ,business.industry ,Astronomy ,Astronomy and Astrophysics ,[SDU.ASTR.IM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM] ,Space and Planetary Science ,business ,Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics ,radio lines: general ,[ SDU ] Sciences of the Universe [physics] - Abstract
The construction of the seven-dish Karoo Array Telescope (KAT-7) array in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape in South Africa was intended primarily as an engineering prototype for technologies and techniques applicable to the MeerKAT telescope. This paper looks at the main engineering and scientific highlights from this effort, and discusses their applicability to both MeerKAT and other next-generation radio telescopes. In particular, we found that the composite dish surface works well, but it becomes complicated to fabricate for a dish lacking circular symmetry; the Stirling cycle cryogenic system with ion pump to achieve vacuum works but demands much higher maintenance than an equivalent Gifford-McMahon cycle system; the ROACH (Reconfigurable Open Architecture Computing Hardware)-based correlator with SPEAD (Streaming Protocol for Exchanging Astronomical Data) protocol data transfer works very well and KATCP (Karoo Array Telescope Control Protocol) control protocol has proven very flexible and convenient. KAT-7 has also been used for scientific observations where it has a niche in mapping low surface-brightness continuum sources, some extended H I haloes and OH masers in star-forming regions. It can also be used to monitor continuum source variability, observe pulsars, and make Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations.
- Published
- 2016
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