LOFAR, the low frequency array

摘要

LOFAR, the Low Frequency Array, is a next-generation radio telescope designed by ASTRON, with antenna stationsconcentrated in the north of the Netherlands and currently spread into Germany, France, Sweden and the UnitedKingdom; plans for more LOFAR stations exist in several other countries. Utilizing a novel, phased-array design,LOFAR is optimized for the largely unexplored low frequency range between 30 and 240 MHz. Digital beam-formingtechniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid re-pointing of the telescopes as well as the potential formultiple simultaneous observations. Processing (e.g. cross-correlation) takes place in the LOFAR BlueGene/Psupercomputer, and associated post-processing facilities. With its dense core (inner few km) array and long (more than1000 km) interferometric baselines, LOFAR reaches unparalleled sensitivity and resolution in the low frequency radioregime.The International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) is now issuing its first call for observing projects that will be peer reviewedand selected for observing starting in December. Part of the allocations will be made on the basis of a fully Open Skiespolicy; there are also reserved fractions assigned by national consortia in return for contributions from their country tothe ILT. In this invited talk, the gradually expanding complement of operationally verified observing modes andcapabilities are reviewed, and some of the exciting first astronomical results are presented.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.