VLBI with KAIRA, LOFAR and the LWA

As we write this, KAIRA is carrying out its first VLBI experiment. We are recording 122 beamlets from RCU mode 4 (LBA, but with 30-80 MHz filters). The subband statistics, beamlet statistics and antenna cross-correlation files are being recorded, but it is the raw beamlet data that is significant here, as it can be used to correlate with the other VLBI stations involved. This particular experiment, organised by Olaf Wucknitz, is being done together with LOFAR stations Effelsberg (DE601), Jülich (DE605), Onsala (SE607) and the LWA in the United States. The map shows the location of these sites:

Sites used in this VLBI experiment. (Background map: ESRI/Penn)

Although this is not the first international experiment with KAIRA, it is the first with recorded raw beamlet data and, therefore, our first attempt to get radio interferometric fringes. Although this is a very ambitious project, if we do manage to get this to work it will be a major technical success.

Updates:

03:26 UTC — In the end, DE605 did not take part. DE601, KAIRA and the LWA reported in okay. No news yet, from SE607.

05:49 UTC — SE607 have now reported it. Their observations went well too.

LOFAR Jülich DE605

Another international LOFAR station has been commissioned. Yesterday, 5th October 2011, the LOFAR station "DE605" was officially opened at Jülich in Germany. Their press statement read:

Bochum, Bremen, Jülich, 5 October 2011 – At last! The LOFAR station DE605 was officially opened on the campus of Forschungszentrum Jülich. The antenna station is an integral part of the digital radio telescope and European large-scale project LOFAR (Low Frequency Array). It will contribute to measuring long-wave radio signals from the dawn of the universe. LOFAR DE605 was built in cooperation between Ruhr University Bochum, Jacobs University Bremen and Forschungszentrum Jülich with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

This new station is one of five located in Germany. There are now eight operational international stations and, although there is still a lot of commissioning work to be done, it is great to see that the network has expanded so far so fast. The photograph below shows the newly completed station.

LOFAR station DE605. Image: Forschungszentrum Jülich

The opening of the facility is great news not just for the Bochum/Bremen/Jülich team, but also for the entire LOFAR facility. The addition of new baselines will improve the image quality and the additional collecting area will provide a valuable sensitivity improvement.

Congratulations to the German team on the completion of their new station!

Press-releases:

• http://www.fz-juelich.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/UK/EN/2011/11-10-05lofar.html (IN ENGLISH)
• http://www.astro.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/lofar-station/ (IN GERMAN)