Daily Image
07-11-2011
Meet EMMA
| Submitter: | EMMA team |
| Description: | As the SKA-AAVP (van Ardenne, 2009) is well on its way, the next generation Aperture Array for the SKA-MID-frequencies, EMMA (EMBrace Multiple for Astronomy), is transforming from a documental instrument into hardware. EMMA will be the successor of EMBRACE (Electronic MultiBeam RadioAstronomy ConcEpt). EMBRACE succesfully demonstrated the technical capabilities of an AA, creating indepedent beams, each having a large FOV of about 100 square degrees. Although this has proven the AA-potential, we can only scratch the surface of the relevant technical questions. EMMA will also be the first science-capable aperture array instrument for the 450-1450 MHz frequency range. In regards of survey speed it will be able to compete with state-of-the-art instruments available in 2015. With a collecting area of 2000 m^2 and a compact configuration, it is an ideal instrument to study baryonic acoustic oscillations by using the intensity mapping technique. With its large field of view, EMMA will also be a fantastic survey instrument for pulsars, polarization and HI in both emmision and absorption. It will be the only instrument with continuous redshift coverage to z=2.2, and thus ideal to detect HI absorption associated with Damped Lyman Alpha systems. The additional rapid switching capability and independent beams make EMMA an outstanding instrument for detecting and follow-up of transient events. From a technical perspective EMMA will demonstrate the technical maturity of aperture arrays. It will be able to reach a dynamic range of 10^5, which is consistent with SKA phase 2 requirements for the full mid-frequency SKA array. It will have full polarization and demonstrate the polarization properties of AA systems. EMMA will have two independent beams, allowing it to do independent observations in each beam. The field of view of each beam will cover 78 square degrees, with a continuous bandwidth of at least 500 MHz. Last but not least, EMMA will play a key role in understanding and tackling the calibration issues for the aperture array systems. |
| Copyright: | EMMA team |
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