Apertif: Phased array feeds for the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. System overview and performance characteristics
Creators
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van Cappellen, W. A.1
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Oosterloo, T. A.1, 2
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Verheijen, M. A. W.2
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Adams, E. A. K.1, 2
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Adebahr, B.3
- Braun, R.
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Hess, K. M.1, 2
- Holties, H.1
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van der Hulst, J. M.2
- Hut, B.1
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Kooistra, E.1
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van Leeuwen, J.1, 4
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Loose, G. M.1
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Morganti, R.1, 2
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Moss, V. A.5, 6, 1
- Orrú, E.1
- Ruiter, M.1
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Schoenmakers, A. P.1
- Vermaas, N. J.1
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Wijnholds, S. J.1
- van Amesfoort, A. S.1
- Arts, M. J.1
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Attema, J. J.7
- Bakker, L.1
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Bassa, C. G.1
- Bast, J. E.1
- Benthem, P.1
- Beukema, R.1
- Blaauw, R.1
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de Blok, W. J. G.1, 8, 2
- Bouwhuis, M.9
- van den Brink, R. H.
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Connor, L.4, 10
- Coolen, A. H. W. M.1
- Damstra, S.1
- van Diepen, G. N. J.1
- de Goei, R.1
- Dénes, H.1
- Drost, M.1
- Ebbendorf, N.1
- Frank, B. S.11, 8
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Gardenier, D. W.1, 4
- Gerbers, M.1
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Grange, Y. G.1
- Grit, T.1
- Gunst, A. W.1
- Gupta, N.12, 1
- Ivashina, M. V.13
- Józsa, G. I. G.11, 14, 15
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Janssen, G. H.1, 16
- Koster, A.1
- Kruithof, G. H.1
- Kuindersma, S. J.1
- Kutkin, A.1, 17
- Lucero, D. M.2, 18
- Maan, Y.1
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Maccagni, F. M.19
- van der Marel, J.1
- Mika, A.1
- Morawietz, J.1
- Mulder, H.1
- Mulder, E.1
- Norden, M. J.1
- Offringa, A. R.1, 2
- Oostrum, L. C.1, 4, 7
- Overeem, R. E.1
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Paragi, Z.20
- Pepping, H. J.1
- Petroff, E.4, 21
- Pisano, D. J.22
- Polatidis, A. G.1
- Prasad, P.
- de Reijer, J. P. R.1
- Romein, J. W.1
- Schaap, J.1
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Schoonderbeek, G. W.1
- Schulz, R.1
- van der Schuur, D.1
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Sclocco, A.7
- Sluman, J. J.1
- Smits, R.1
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Stappers, B. W.23
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Straal, S. M.24
- Stuurwold, K. J. C.1
- Verstappen, J.2, 1
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Vohl, D.1
- Wierenga, K. J.1
- Woestenburg, E. E. M.1
- Zanting, A. W.1
- Ziemke, J.1, 25
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1.
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
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2.
University of Groningen
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3.
Ruhr University Bochum
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4.
University of Amsterdam
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5.
Australia Telescope National Facility
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6.
University of Sydney
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7.
Netherlands eScience Center
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8.
University of Cape Town
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9.
National Institute for Subatomic Physics
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10.
California Institute of Technology
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11.
South African Radio Astronomy Observatory
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12.
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
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13.
Chalmers University of Technology
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14.
Rhodes University
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15.
University of Bonn
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16.
Radboud University Nijmegen
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17.
Astro Space Center
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18.
Virginia Tech
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19.
Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari
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20.
Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe
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21.
McGill University
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22.
West Virginia University
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23.
University of Manchester
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24.
New York University Abu Dhabi
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25.
University of Oslo
Abstract
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.
Additional Information
© ESO 2022. Received 7 July 2021 / Accepted 17 September 2021. This work makes use of data from the Apertif system installed at the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope owned by ASTRON. ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, is an institute of the Dutch Research Council NWO (De Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek). This work is part of the research programme "Investeringen NWO-groot" with project numbers 175.010.2005.015 and 175.010.2009.012, which are (partly) financed by NWO. UniBoard was a Joint Research Activity in the EC-funded RadioNet FP7 programme, under contract no. 227290, and was led by the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE). Optimisations of the board for production were funded by Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN). The integration of multiple UniBoards into one mechanical construction was realized through the ExBox project, funded by NWO. MV acknowledges support by NWO through Vici grant 639.043.511. EAKA is supported by the WISE research programme, which is financed by NWO. The research leading to these results received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013), through ERC Grant Agreement No. 291531 ('HIStoryNU', PI: JMvdH), ERC Advanced Grant RADIOLIFE-320745 (PI: RM) and ERC Grant Agreement No. 617199 ('ALERT', PI: JvL). JvL further acknowledges funding from Vici research programme 'ARGO' with project number 639.043.815, financed by NWO. EP acknowledges funding from an NWO Veni Fellowship. SMS was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under grant number NNX17AL74G issued through the NNH16ZDA001N Astrophysics Data Analysis Program (ADAP). DV acknowledges support from the Netherlands eScience Center (NLeSC) under grant ASDI.15.406Attached Files
Published - aa41739-21.pdf
Accepted Version - 2109.14234.pdf
Files
2109.14234.pdf
Additional details
Identifiers
- Eprint ID
- 113473
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20220216-572639625
Related works
- Describes
- https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.14234 (URL)
Funding
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)
- 175.010.2005.015
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)
- 175.010.2009.012
- European Research Council (ERC)
- 227290
- Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN)
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)
- 639.043.511
- European Research Council (ERC)
- 291531
- European Research Council (ERC)
- 320745
- European Research Council (ERC)
- 617199
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)
- 639.043.815
- NASA
- NNX17AL74G
- NASA
- NNH16ZDA001N
- Netherlands eScience Center
- ASDI.15.406
Dates
- Created
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2022-02-16Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2022-02-16Created from EPrint's last_modified field