Imaging and Inference

Overview

The SKA has substantial technological challenges in data-collection, calibration, signal processing, and imaging. It is pretty clear that current SKA documents are clear about current limitations, new ideas will be needed to make inroads into these design challenges. This theme will look at extensions of conventional radio-astronomical data processing and imaging that can challenge some of the traditional limitations (bounds) and get the big gains that are needed to make the SKA work.

No plausible SKA construction proposal for either Phase 1 or the full SKA is possible without answering feasibility and cost equation questions concerning calibration and processing [1]. These issues play a particularly important role in the SKA project as a result of the science need for large field-of-view and high sensitivity, and various considerations that drive digitization much closer to the receptors in contemporary radio interferometer designs making calibration and processing costs an increasingly dominant design and cost driver.

Theme Members

• Assoc Prof Colin Fox (University of Otago)
• Dr Jari Koipio (University of Auckland, Finnish Center of Research Excellence in Inverse Problems)
• Assoc Prof Renata Meyer (University of Auckland)
• Dr Ilze Zeidens (University of Auckland)
• Dr Richard Arnold (Victoria University Wellington)
• Dr Tim Molteno (University of Otago)
  

International Engagement

• Calibration and Processing forms an important component of the PrepSKA work package 2.
  
• The goal of this theme will be to make a significant contribution to the TDP Calibration and Processing Working
  Group (CPG)

Meetings and Workshops

• Workshop 1: 16 December 2009, Dunedin Room, Otago House, Auckland. The theme of this workshop was the mathematical foundations of the measurement process of imaging in radio astronomy. This was followed by a discussion of the opportunities for a NZ effort in this area.
• Workshop 2: Held as part of SIPE '10:  18-20 January 2010. Dept of Physics, University of Otago.
• Workshop 3: Auckland, March 2010. Date to be confirmed.