The Long Wavelength Array (LWA)
UNM is involved in constructing a low frequency
array. The official site can be found at the LWA web pages. The Long Wavelength
Array (LWA) will be a user-oriented aperture synthesis instrument
dedicated to explore the frequency regime between 20-80 MHz. The LWA
will provide high temporal (millisecond or better) and high spatial
resolution (arcsecond) to probe the transient universe at long
wavelengths where previous undiscovered classed of emitters,
including steep-spectrum sources are expected. The LWA key science
areas include cosmic evolution, transient phenomena, solar and
exosolar planets, the interstellar medium and ionospheric, solar and
space weather sciences. In addition, key goals of the LWA are as a
technical training ground for the next generation of radio
astronomers and to re-invigorate radio astronomy in the US at the
university level.
Great discoveries in astronomy are often enabled by technological
advancements, for instance in receiver development or improvements
of calibration algorithms. This illustrates the importance of an
all-embracing understanding of the field. The science and
engineering communities have naturally evolved into more
specialized, and separate communities which may lead to a weakening
of the communication between the disciplines. The LWA will be
operated by the University of New Mexico on behalf of the Southwest
Consortium, and will provide a unique opportunity to intermix the
engineering and science field already at a student level. In
particular, student projects will include design, fabrication, RFI
mitigation, observing, software development, and imaging and
calibration algorithms. The Southwest Consortium consists of the
Naval Research Lab, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National
Laboratories and University of Texas at Austin.
Some of the issues I am involved in,
regarding the LWA: