Apertif: Phased array feeds for the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. System overview and performance characteristics

Autor: W. A. van Cappellen, T. A. Oosterloo, M. A. W. Verheijen, E. A. K. Adams, B. Adebahr, R. Braun, K. M. Hess, H. Holties, J. M. van der Hulst, B. Hut, E. Kooistra, J. van Leeuwen, G. M. Loose, R. Morganti, V. A. Moss, E. Orrú, M. Ruiter, A. P. Schoenmakers, N. J. Vermaas, S. J. Wijnholds, A. S. van Amesfoort, M. J. Arts, J. J. Attema, L. Bakker, C. G. Bassa, J. E. Bast, P. Benthem, R. Beukema, R. Blaauw, W. J. G. de Blok, M. Bouwhuis, R. H. van den Brink, L. Connor, A. H. W. M. Coolen, S. Damstra, G. N. J. van Diepen, R. de Goei, H. Dénes, M. Drost, N. Ebbendorf, B. S. Frank, D. W. Gardenier, M. Gerbers, Y. G. Grange, T. Grit, A. W. Gunst, N. Gupta, M. V. Ivashina, G. I. G. Józsa, G. H. Janssen, A. Koster, G. H. Kruithof, S. J. Kuindersma, A. Kutkin, D. M. Lucero, Y. Maan, F. M. Maccagni, J. van der Marel, A. Mika, J. Morawietz, H. Mulder, E. Mulder, M. J. Norden, A. R. Offringa, L. C. Oostrum, R. E. Overeem, Z. Paragi, H. J. Pepping, E. Petroff, D. J. Pisano, A. G. Polatidis, P. Prasad, J. P. R. de Reijer, J. W. Romein, J. Schaap, G. W. Schoonderbeek, R. Schulz, D. van der Schuur, A. Sclocco, J. J. Sluman, R. Smits, B. W. Stappers, S. M. Straal, K. J. C. Stuurwold, J. Verstappen, D. Vohl, K. J. Wierenga, E. E. M. Woestenburg, A. W. Zanting, J. Ziemke
Přispěvatelé: Astronomy, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Astronomy and astrophysics, 658:A146. EDP Sciences
ISSN: 0004-6361
Popis: We describe the APERture Tile In Focus (Apertif) system, a phased array feed (PAF) upgrade of the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope that transforms this telescope into a high-sensitivity, wide-field-of-view L-band imaging and transient survey instrument. Using novel PAF technology, up to 40 partially overlapping beams are formed on the sky simultaneously, significantly increasing the survey speed of the telescope. With this upgraded instrument, an imaging survey covering an area of 2300 deg2 is being performed that will deliver both continuum and spectral line datasets, of which the first data have been publicly released. In addition, a time domain transient and pulsar survey covering 15 000 deg2 is in progress. An overview of the Apertif science drivers, hardware, and software of the upgraded telescope is presented, along with its key performance characteristics.
Databáze: OpenAIRE