The impressive engineering physics credentials of the CSIRO Radiophysics people are once again demonstrated through the granting of an award for a Phased Array Feed that enables radio telescopes to obtain a very much wider field of view than is normal.
https://www.engineersaustralia.org.a...rs#INNOVATIONS
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/projects/as...l_Update_5.pdf
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/projects/as...l_Update_8.pdf
The Australian government funds radio astronomy at a high level, no doubt because of the fact that these people know how to produce useful high technology.
Any of you radio people care to explain how this receiver works??
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Personal opinion piece:
I can't understand why a large slab of the SKA was awarded to South Africa.........
S.A:
- High technical risk.
- Funding difficulties possible, as S.A. is a relatively poor country.
- Significant political risk.
- S.A has a significant background in optical astronomy but little real experience with radio astronomy. Consider for example that SALT had a major optical problem that took a couple of years to diagnose; multiply this sort of problem by a hundred for the case of the SKA.
VS.
Aus:
- Low technical risk; Aus already operates the ATCA, Parkes dish, ASKAP, MWA, and the Tidbinbilla dish.
- Already funded.
- Low political risk
- Demonstrated ability to produce and maintain and operate the technology
- Aus is now equal to the USA or the ESO in radio Astronomy
Therefore.....
My Prediction is:
The SKA will never be built!
Comparison:
The Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array, which cost 1.5 billion dollars, almost didn't get completed, because
it was a technical and organizational and funding stretch, despite the fact that it was developed by a giant consortium of rich countries including Japan and the United States and the ESO.