The Low Frequency All Sky Monitor for the Study of Radio Transients: Prototype Hardware Development
Abstract
In radio astronomy, the low frequency band (< 88 MHz) is one of the least explored regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Low Frequency All Sky Monitor (LoFASM), built from technology designed for the Long Wavelength Array (LWA), will be dedicated to the continuous, long-term monitoring of this band. The primary science goal of this project will be the study of radio transients, bursts of radio radiation that can last for a wide range of time scales from micro-seconds to several days. The full LoFASM project will consist of three independent antenna arrays, or "stations,” separated by several thousand kilometers, observing coincident parts of the sky, allowing fast discrimination of local and astronomical signals. The sensitivity and geographical distribution of the LoFASM antennas will offer significant advantages for the study of radio transients compared to previous and ongoing programs. This poster describes the analog and digital hardware implemented in the prototype system which has been developed by undergraduate students working at UTB's Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #219
- Pub Date:
- January 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AAS...21942235R