Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA
The Boolardy Engineering TestArray is a 6×12mdish interferometer and the prototype of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), equipped with the first generation of ASKAP's phased array feed (PAF) receivers. These facilitate rapid wide-area imaging via the deployment of simulta...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Oxford University Press
2016
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23267 |
| _version_ | 1848751102719164416 |
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| author | Heywood, I. Bannister, K. Marvil, J. Allison, J. Ball, L. Bell, M. Bock, D. Brothers, M. Bunton, J. Chippendale, A. Cooray, F. Cornwell, T. De Boer, D. Edwards, P. Gough, R. Gupta, N. Harvey-Smith, L. Hay, S. Hotan, A. Indermuehle, B. Jacka, C. Jackson, Carole Johnston, S. Kimball, A. Koribalski, B. Lenc, E. Macleod, A. McClure-Griffiths, N. McConnell, D. Mirtschin, P. Murphy, T. Neuhold, S. Norris, R. Pearce, S. Popping, A. Qiao, R. Reynolds, J. Sadler, E. Sault, R. Schinckel, A. Serra, P. Shimwell, T. Stevens, J. Tuthill, J. Tzioumis, A. Voronkov, M. Westmeier, T. Whiting, M. |
| author_facet | Heywood, I. Bannister, K. Marvil, J. Allison, J. Ball, L. Bell, M. Bock, D. Brothers, M. Bunton, J. Chippendale, A. Cooray, F. Cornwell, T. De Boer, D. Edwards, P. Gough, R. Gupta, N. Harvey-Smith, L. Hay, S. Hotan, A. Indermuehle, B. Jacka, C. Jackson, Carole Johnston, S. Kimball, A. Koribalski, B. Lenc, E. Macleod, A. McClure-Griffiths, N. McConnell, D. Mirtschin, P. Murphy, T. Neuhold, S. Norris, R. Pearce, S. Popping, A. Qiao, R. Reynolds, J. Sadler, E. Sault, R. Schinckel, A. Serra, P. Shimwell, T. Stevens, J. Tuthill, J. Tzioumis, A. Voronkov, M. Westmeier, T. Whiting, M. |
| author_sort | Heywood, I. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The Boolardy Engineering TestArray is a 6×12mdish interferometer and the prototype of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), equipped with the first generation of ASKAP's phased array feed (PAF) receivers. These facilitate rapid wide-area imaging via the deployment of simultaneous multiple beams within an ~30 deg2 field of view. By cycling the array through 12 interleaved pointing positions and using nine digitally formed beams, we effectively mimic a traditional 1 h × 108 pointing survey, covering ~150 deg2 over 711-1015 MHz in 12 h of observing time. Three such observations were executed over the course of a week. We verify the full bandwidth continuum imaging performance and stability of the system via self-consistency checks and comparisons to existing radio data. The combined three epoch image has arcminute resolution and a 1s thermal noise level of 375 µJy beam-1, although the effective noise is a factor of ~3 higher due to residual sidelobe confusion. From this we derive a catalogue of 3722 discrete radio components, using the 35 per cent fractional bandwidth to measure in-band spectral indices for 1037 of them. A search for transient events reveals one significantly variable source within the survey area. The survey covers approximately two-thirds of the Spitzer South Pole Telescope Deep Field. This pilot project demonstrates the viability and potential of using PAFs to rapidly and accurately survey the sky at radio wavelengths. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:47:24Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-23267 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:47:24Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-232672017-09-13T13:56:21Z Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA Heywood, I. Bannister, K. Marvil, J. Allison, J. Ball, L. Bell, M. Bock, D. Brothers, M. Bunton, J. Chippendale, A. Cooray, F. Cornwell, T. De Boer, D. Edwards, P. Gough, R. Gupta, N. Harvey-Smith, L. Hay, S. Hotan, A. Indermuehle, B. Jacka, C. Jackson, Carole Johnston, S. Kimball, A. Koribalski, B. Lenc, E. Macleod, A. McClure-Griffiths, N. McConnell, D. Mirtschin, P. Murphy, T. Neuhold, S. Norris, R. Pearce, S. Popping, A. Qiao, R. Reynolds, J. Sadler, E. Sault, R. Schinckel, A. Serra, P. Shimwell, T. Stevens, J. Tuthill, J. Tzioumis, A. Voronkov, M. Westmeier, T. Whiting, M. The Boolardy Engineering TestArray is a 6×12mdish interferometer and the prototype of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), equipped with the first generation of ASKAP's phased array feed (PAF) receivers. These facilitate rapid wide-area imaging via the deployment of simultaneous multiple beams within an ~30 deg2 field of view. By cycling the array through 12 interleaved pointing positions and using nine digitally formed beams, we effectively mimic a traditional 1 h × 108 pointing survey, covering ~150 deg2 over 711-1015 MHz in 12 h of observing time. Three such observations were executed over the course of a week. We verify the full bandwidth continuum imaging performance and stability of the system via self-consistency checks and comparisons to existing radio data. The combined three epoch image has arcminute resolution and a 1s thermal noise level of 375 µJy beam-1, although the effective noise is a factor of ~3 higher due to residual sidelobe confusion. From this we derive a catalogue of 3722 discrete radio components, using the 35 per cent fractional bandwidth to measure in-band spectral indices for 1037 of them. A search for transient events reveals one significantly variable source within the survey area. The survey covers approximately two-thirds of the Spitzer South Pole Telescope Deep Field. This pilot project demonstrates the viability and potential of using PAFs to rapidly and accurately survey the sky at radio wavelengths. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23267 10.1093/mnras/stw186 Oxford University Press fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Heywood, I. Bannister, K. Marvil, J. Allison, J. Ball, L. Bell, M. Bock, D. Brothers, M. Bunton, J. Chippendale, A. Cooray, F. Cornwell, T. De Boer, D. Edwards, P. Gough, R. Gupta, N. Harvey-Smith, L. Hay, S. Hotan, A. Indermuehle, B. Jacka, C. Jackson, Carole Johnston, S. Kimball, A. Koribalski, B. Lenc, E. Macleod, A. McClure-Griffiths, N. McConnell, D. Mirtschin, P. Murphy, T. Neuhold, S. Norris, R. Pearce, S. Popping, A. Qiao, R. Reynolds, J. Sadler, E. Sault, R. Schinckel, A. Serra, P. Shimwell, T. Stevens, J. Tuthill, J. Tzioumis, A. Voronkov, M. Westmeier, T. Whiting, M. Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA |
| title | Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA |
| title_full | Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA |
| title_fullStr | Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA |
| title_short | Wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: A pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with ASKAP-BETA |
| title_sort | wide-field broad-band radio imaging with phased array feeds: a pilot multi-epoch continuum survey with askap-beta |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23267 |