We are proud to present a new edition of the LOFAR Development Newsletter. A lot is happening right now, so this edition is fully packed with good stuff!
The development of LOFAR2.0 is nearing completion and our focus is now almost fully on verification and validation of the design (only the software development continues). The hardware components for LOFAR2.0 have been purchased and we are waiting for the delivery of the first batch of electronics by early 2024. In the meantime, the second phase of the LOFAR2.0 test station will be ready for field testing in June. In this second phase, all LBA and HBA antennas will be connected, allowing us to test the LOFAR2.0 design at its full capacity. In the meantime, dynamic scheduling is introduced in LOFAR. It allows to optimize the telescope’s time on sky and reduces the effort to operate the telescope. Thanks to the dynamic scheduling, less time is needed for operators to set up the observation program, and the telescope can respond more agile and with less manual work to unforeseen events like windmill stand-still time, station availability and ionospheric conditions.
Work has also started on the technical specifications to replace the Central Systems in Groningen (CEP4, COBALT2 and the network infrastructure). Apart from the technical challenges, one of the biggest puzzles is to align the CEP upgrade with cycle 20 observations and the LOFAR2.0 commissioning. More on this topic in future editions of this Newsletter.
Happy reading!
Mon 06 Nov 2023 - Thu 09 Nov 2023
De cursus Toegepaste RF-techniek bestaat uit een theoriegedeelte (75%) en hands-on sessies in ons eigen lab (25%).
Deelnemers aan deze cursus dienen een hbo werk- en denkniveau te hebben. De deelnemer kent de basisbegrippen van elektronica. Parate kennis van wiskundige concepten is niet vereist, maar komt wel aan de orde bij de transmissielijntheorie. In de cursus wordt ook complexe rekenwijze toegepast.
We are proud to present a new edition of the LOFAR Development Newsletter. A lot is happening right now, so this edition is fully packed with good stuff!
The development of LOFAR2.0 is nearing completion and our focus is now almost fully on verification and validation of the design (only the software development continues). The hardware components for LOFAR2.0 have been purchased and we are waiting for the delivery of the first batch of electronics by early 2024. In the meantime, the second phase of the LOFAR2.0 test station will be ready for field testing in June. In this second phase, all LBA and HBA antennas will be connected, allowing us to test the LOFAR2.0 design at its full capacity. In the meantime, dynamic scheduling is introduced in LOFAR. It allows to optimize the telescope’s time on sky and reduces the effort to operate the telescope. Thanks to the dynamic scheduling, less time is needed for operators to set up the observation program, and the telescope can respond more agile and with less manual work to unforeseen events like windmill stand-still time, station availability and ionospheric conditions.
Work has also started on the technical specifications to replace the Central Systems in Groningen (CEP4, COBALT2 and the network infrastructure). Apart from the technical challenges, one of the biggest puzzles is to align the CEP upgrade with cycle 20 observations and the LOFAR2.0 commissioning. More on this topic in future editions of this Newsletter.
Happy reading!
Mon 22 Mar 2021 - Fri 26 Mar 2021
6th LOFAR Data School. The aim of the school is to introduce the LOFAR system to new members of the LOFAR community who will analyse both interferometric and high time resolution beamformed LOFAR data. Students, postdocs, and staff are all encouraged to attend.
Thu 07 Oct 2021 - Tue 12 Oct 2021
The International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) is preparing for a significant upgrade, LOFAR2.0, for which a Large Programme Portfolio will be composed. The online information sessions will take place on: Thursday, 7 October 12-15 UT Tuesday, 12 October, 7-10 UT Hour 1: Welcome word - René Vermeulen (5min) LOFAR2.0 expected observing capabilities - Jason Hessels + Cees […]
Mon 07 Nov 2022 - Thu 10 Nov 2022
The RF course is an excellent introduction for Digital / Analog engineers who are or will be involved in the development of RF systems.
Mon 19 Sep 2022 - Fri 23 Sep 2022
ERIS 2022 is a week-long training in techniques of radio interferometry via lectures and tutorials. This school is the ninth of a series of summer schools sponsored by RadioNet and is hosted by JIVE - Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC & ASTRON – Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. The topics covered by the lectures/tutorials will […]
Fri 13 May 2022
Dear Colleagues, The NRAAC (Netherlands Radio Astronomy Advisory Committee) is pleased to announce the NL Radio Astronomy Community Day 2022 - the first in what we intend to be an annual event. After two years of Covid pandemic it will be especially nice to see each other in person! The Community Day will be May […]
Mon 17 Oct 2022 - Wed 19 Oct 2022
The third edition of the Next Generation Space VLBI workshop (ngSVLBI-2022), co-organised by JIVE and ASTRON in Dwingeloo (The Netherlands) will be held on 17-19 October 2022. The ngSVLBI-2022 workshop will focus on the future of high-resolution radio interferometry. Next-generation Space VLBI missions would be natural extensions of advanced Earth-based facilities such as global VLBI networks, (ng)EHT, […]
Sun 02 Oct 2022
English follows Dutch Bezoek ons tijdens onze open dag op 2 oktober Wij zijn gemakkelijk bereikbaar met de (elektrische) fiets. Kom je met de auto? Deze kunt je parkeren op het veld aan de Oude Hoogeveensedijk/Bosrand. Onze shuttlebus brengt je vervolgens gratis naar ons toe. Tijdens de open dag leer je van alles over […]
Mon 15 May 2023 - Wed 17 May 2023
The 78th Dutch Astronomers' Conference (“Nederlandse Astronomenconferentie”) will be organized by ASTRON the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy under the auspices of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Astronomenclub/Royal Netherlands Astronomical Society (KNA/RNAS) from 15 to 17 May 2023. The conference venue is the WestCord WTC hotel in Leeuwarden.