Number of operational stations:

The number of operational stations in May 2012 are:   

- 24 Core Stations

- 9 Remote Stations

- 8 International Stations

- Number of stations available for LBA observations: 41

- Number of stations available for HBA (Dual) observations: 65

Due to the limit in the number of input data streams to the correlator, only 64 stations fields can be correlated from the total of the planned 72 HBA (sub)fields (in the HBA_DUAL mode when the core stations are split in two HBA sub-fields).

The following station combinations are mutually exclusive:

1. DE602 & CS031HBA1
2. DE601 & CS001HBA1
3. FR606 & CS030HBA1
4. UK608 & CS013HBA1
5. DE603 & CS028HBA1
6. DE604 & CS011HBA1
7. DE605 & CS401HBA1
8. SE607 & CS301HBA1

This scheme was planned so that all remote stations can be included in the 64 station array. Currently there is a maximum of 65 operational HBA sub(fields), but the mutual exclusion remains in place.

 

Frequency Ranges:

An observer can choose between the following frequency ranges:

- LBA: 10-80 MHz (200 MHz clock)

- LBA: 30-80 MHz (200 MHz clock)

- HBA: 110-190 MHz (200 MHz clock)

- HBA: 170-230 MHz (160 MHz clock)

- HBA: 210-250 MHz (200 MHz clock)

Note that frequency ranges that use the 160MHz clock are not supported for full automated operations in LOFAR Version 1.0

Available Bandwidth

Up to 244 subbands of 0.195 MHz (195.312 kHz at 200 MHz clock) and 0.156 MHz  (156.250 kHz at 160MHz clock). 

A total of 47.67 MHz (200 MHz clock) or  38.12 MHz (160 MHz clock)

Angular Resolution

Operational baselines (May 2012): 

a) Within the NL:

North-south= ~82 km ie resolution 10 arc sec at 60 MHz

East-West  = ~21 km ie resolution 40 arcsec at 60 MHz

b) Including international baselines

North-South: ~1232 km, ie resolution 0.65 arcsec at 60 MHz

East West   : ~ 1004 km, ie resolution 0.79 arcsec at 60 MHz