Abstract Details
| Name: Vinutha C Affiliation: Raman Research Institute Conference ID: ASI2018_1734 Title : SWAN (Sky Watch Array Network) Demonstrator: Development & Status. Authors and Co-Authors : Vinutha Chandrashekar, K. B. Raghavendra Rao, Rahul Kinger, H. A. Aswathappa, P. S. Sasikumar, T. S. Mamatha, Bhawana Bansal*, Harsh Grover**, H. N. Nagaraja, P. Sandhya, Indrajit Barve#, and Avinash A. Deshpande. Raman Research Institute, * IIT Kharagpur, ** BITS Pilani, # Indian Institute of Astrophysics Abstract Type : Poster Abstract Category : Instrumentation and Techniques Abstract : The Indian SWAN (Sky Watch Array Network) initiative, aims significantly to enhance Indian observing capabilities in radio, but importantly, also to sustainably build & nurture future generations of talented radio astronomers in India to take up the challenges and lead in exciting research in astronomy. The SWAN aim is to design, develop and use a wide-band interferometric array of antenna across different parts of India to facilitate and conduct deep searches & studies of fast and slow transient radio radiation from astronomical sources, also enabling high angular resolution (VLBI) imaging of discrete galactic & extragalactic sources at low radio frequencies. It is also aimed to facilitate hands-on experience to a large number of undergraduate/postgraduate students through their direct & active participation, starting from the design stage to competitive research using the array network. The proposed competitive network, with nominally 1000 sq. m array area at each location and operation spanning a decade in frequency (50-500 MHz), is being developed in three phases. As a proof-of-concept/demonstrator system, a 7-station system, using small tiles (based on MWA design) and receiver hardware from RRI-GBT Multiband system, is successfully configured at the Gauribidanur Telescope Field Station, and is being characterized & tested in a tied-array mode. Remote access, to operate this system, is open for students from several institutes to familiarize using the array network. Here, we describe this system in some detail, and present preliminary test results. |