AAS – TWAS – NCSTThe Square Kilometre Array Radio

Telescope

Nairobi 27 May 2013

Africa–next great economic growth story

• Rapid growth - value added industries, not only resource extraction

• WEF - huge infrastructure programme planned– Greatest constraint is scientific, engineering,

ICT, commercial etc. skills and capacity to plan, design, build, operate and maintain

• Skills and competency for competitiveness• ICT underpins everything

Africa and Big Science

• Building the world’s largest science infrastructure in Africa – the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope

• A breakthrough for Africa in how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us

• African scientists to do big science and fundamental science and high-tech – Nobel Prizes from Africa, by Africans

• Exciting projects to attract young people into science and technology and keep them in Africa

Humans, abstract thought and technology originated in Africa

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The South African President visits SIP16

SKA Dishes

Dishes to cover the frequency range 500 MHz to 10 GHz

SKA Dishes

Dishes to cover the frequency range 500 MHz to 10 GHzPhase 1: 250 Dishes (do science early), 200km baselinesPhase 2: +-3000 Dishes, up to 3000km baselines

SKA Dense Aperture ArraysArray of "tiles" to cover the medium frequency range from 200 to 500 MHz

3 x 3 m tiles will be grouped into circular stations, 60 m in diameter

SKA Dense Aperture ArraysArray of "tiles" to cover the medium frequency range from 200 to 500 MHz

3 x 3 m tiles will be grouped into circular stations, 60 m in diameter

SKA Sparse Aperture Arrays

Array of simple dipole antennas to cover frequency range from 70 – 200 MHzGrouped in 100m diameter stations each containing about 90 elements

SKA Cost

• Acquisition cost (capex and NRE)– I expect about €4 billion – decision on Phase

1 cap in July• Operations and maintenance over ~50

years– Probably €~3-400 million per year

• Costs to be covered by members of the SKA Organisation

• Other contributions possible – EU?

SKA Organisation

• Ten countries – UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, China, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand

• India joining• Four intend to join – Japan, South Korea,

France, USA• USA probably after 2020 (Decadal Review

of Astronomy)• Membership currently €250 000 per year

SKA site decision timeline

• Discussions started early 1990s• Expressions of interest 2003• Proposals December 2005• Short list September 2006• Site testing and planning• Submit proposals (we sent 27000 pages of

supporting documents) September 2011• Recommendation for Africa February 2012• Dual site decision April 2012

Proposed SKA construction timeline

• 2013 – 2016 Pre-construction, detailed design• 2014 – 2016 Members seek SKA1 funding, followingestablishment of cost-cap (July 2013) and confirmation of

SKA1 scope.• 2016/17 Establishment of new governance arrangements

for the SKA Organisation• 2017 Tender for and procure construction of SKA1• 2017 – 2020 Detailed design of SKA2• 2018 – 2021 Construction of SKA1• 2020 Early science with some components of SKA1• 2019 – 2021 Seek SKA2 construction funding• 2022 – 2027 Construction of SKA2

Why the SKA?

• Multi-wavelength astronomy• Science case

– Galaxy evolution, cosmology and dark energy– Strong field tests of general relativity using pulsars

and black holes– Origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism– Probing the Dark Ages –how were the first stars and

black holes formed?– Detect very weak extra-terrestrial signals and will

search for complex molecules, the building blocks of life, in space

• And serendipitous discoveries!

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SKA Split between Africa and Aus

The SKA in Africa

African Partner Working Group

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What is expected from partners?

• Next working group meeting July 2013 – Ministers will visit the site– Institutional, technical and scientific capacity– Availability of sites– Testing and characterisation of the sites– Protection from radio frequency interference through

regulation– Easy access for work and research for SKAO people

and goods (diplomatic status?) – No customs, excise duties, VAT– Participate in planning and delivery in country

Radio Frequency Interference

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Cape TownPort Elizabeth

Kroonstad

Durban

Bethlehem

East London

Camden

Witbank

Richards Bay

Grahamstown

Maseru

Noupoort

Polokwane

Komatipoort

MusinaPhalaborwa

Maputo

Infraco Long Distance NetworkKAT Transmission Network:

Ladysmith

Newcastle

George

Kenhardt

Kimberley

De Aar

Bloemfontein

Perseus

Pietermaritzburg

NelspruitPretoriaMinerva

Johannesburg

LegendBackbone

KAT Network

Data connectivity

African Submarine Cable Systems

Africa Terrestrial Cable Systems

The SKA is an Opportunity• What we make of it depends on what we put into

it – nothing is given to us on a plate– Science – Nobel Prizes for Africa?– Human capital development and skills - critical mass of

young engineers and scientists with expertise in next-generation technologies (e.g. Big Data; digital signal processing; HPC; control etc.) and science

– Reverse brain drain– Strengthen universities– Stimulating interest in science and engineering– Jobs in construction, operations and maintenance – Industry involvement– Spin-offs

Example - Big Data

• Technologies for SKA are innovative• Big Data creating entirely new industries which will

be very dominant in the global economy – millions or billions of sensors sending streams of data; huge data sets requiring ultra-fast computing, analysis and visualisation, storage.

• SKA >100 x the data traffic of the world-wide web.– An exabyte of data per day – 1018 bytes– Exaflop computing speeds – current best is some

petaflops. Equivalent would be ~ 108 laptops• Use SKA to get young people into Big Data,

wireless, signal processing etc. so that Africa can play a world-leading role in these new industries.

AERAP

• European Parliament Written Declaration to support Radio Astronomy in Africa

• They have established the Africa-Europe Radio Astronomy Platform to mobilize funding and collaboration

• Working with the European Parliament and Commission and with European and African astronomers on projects

• Possible major new funding instruments

Collaboration

• Mutual benefit agreements– DOME – IBM Europe, ASTRON (Netherlands), SKA

SA: various aspects of high performance computing– SKA SA and IBM USA – machine learning– Intel and SKA SA: pushing next generation chips– Nokia Siemens and SKA: data transport– CISCO and NMMU

• CASPER collaboration• Huawei• Many universities and institutes

Why Precursors?

• Develop and test designs and technologies

• Understand costs• Develop science• Get involved with SA universities to do

MeerKAT science

Protected Karoo Site

• 14 000 ha bought• Protected by Astronomy Geographic

Advantage Act• Access roads, 33kV specially designed

powerline (no sparking), 10Gb/s optical fibre, buildings etc. built for Kat 7

• Roads, airstrip, buildings, sub-station upgrade for MeerKAT

SKA Site and the Central Astronomy Advantage Area

Astronomy Geographical Advantage Act• Empowers the Minister for Science and

Technology to declare protected areas around strategic astronomy sites by regulation

• Covers both radio and optical astronomy• The Act establishes an AGA Management

Authority to regulate and enforce• Three tiers of protected areas:

• Core area – the physical area of the observatory / instrument

• Central area – surrounds the core area. Minister prohibits certain activities / categories of activities in this area

• Coordination area –Minister sets standards which activities must comply with

• Protected areas apply to existing and new activities

• The Act prevails over existing Electronic Communications Act, where protection of radio astronomy is concerned

MeerKAT Dishes

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Concept design Requirements definition

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CODR RR

Single-dish back-end ready

4-element array back-end ready- Continuum imaging

Early ScienceArray Commissioning

32-element array back-end ready- Spectal line imaging- Beam forming

full array back-end ready- Transient Search

Prelim design

RR

PDR

Detail design, implementation, qualification and acceptanceUsing KAT-7 as development platform

Receptor #1&2 Receptor #4 Receptor #32 Receptor #64Requirements

definitionTender

Prelim design

Detail design

Build & qualify Receptor #1&2 Produce & ATP Receptor #3 - 64

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Concept definitionSystem definition

Subsystem definition

Integration and verification

MeerKAT Large Surveys (Science Cases)

22 countries

MeerKAT Dish Concept

MeerKATKAT7

Antenna Risk/Development AreasReflector•Reflector Accuracy (includes curing distortions)•Reflector Alignment•Durability of composites (includes reflectivity)•Operational scenarios•Wind/Thermal loading

Feed Indexer•Concept•Durability•Cable Wrap

Jack-screw•Single-point failure (duty cycle/safety)

Elevation Stage (fairly low risk)•Drive (sizing/power consumption)•Bearing•Cable Wrap•Encoder Mount

Sub Reflector•Accuracy•Alignment

Foundation•Stability•Infrastructure

Azimuth Stage•Drive•Bearing•Cable Wrap•Encoder Mount

Antenna Control Unit•Functionality•Reliability/Robustness•Control system influence pointing•EMI/RFI considerations

Connecting Beam•Stiffness (control/ subreflector + feed support

Pointing•Tight pointing specs considered significant risk•Operational scenarios•Wind/Thermal loading

Lightning Protection

Reliability

Cost/Procurement

Alignment with SKA

MeerKAT Antennas

Antenna Concept Review 30-Oct-12Installed Antenna #1 02-Dec-13Antenna #1 qualified and CDR 31-Jan-14Antenna #2 acceptance testing completed 31-April-14Antenna #6 acceptance testing completed 21-Nov-14Antenna #16 acceptance testing completed 16-Jun-15

Antenna #32 acceptance testing completed 20-Nov-15

Antenna #64 acceptance testing completed 19-Sep-16

Contract completion 02-Dec-16

MeerKAT L-Band Receiver• 0.9 to 1.67 GHz• Without adding cost MeerKAT sensitivity has been

improved from 220 m2/K to 300 m2/K• Mechanical challenges

• Size and Weight• Maintaining Vacuum• Heat Transfer• Cost Effective Manufacturing

• Design for Manufacture• Design for Assembly• Design for testing

• Services• Vacuum pump• Compressor

• EM and RF performance are primary design drivers (not discussed here)

DBE: CASPER / ROACH

CASPER / ROACH

MeerKAT integration lab

Cape Town MeerKAT Control Room

Dish Assembly shed

Pedestal integration shed

Bunkered & RFI shielded

processor building and power room

Expansion of Site Complex for MeerKAT

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On-site roads

Bulk Power Supply to site

Left: Upgrade to Karoo substation

Top: 33kV power line (steel section)

African VLBI Network (AVN)

Need to fill in this gap

30-m class antennas in Africa

Contributes to excellent science with European and other VLBI networks. Very exciting science - looking at physics very close to black holes.

Nkutunse - Ghana

Kenya next - Longonot

Nkutunse – SKA SA interaction

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Capacity development

• Use AVN project to build up institutional, technical, science capacity

• Develop research and teaching in astronomy and physics – exchange programmes etc.

• Major technical training• Interns• Build HPC skills to become involved in

data processing and science

Human Capital Development• Research chairs• Visiting / joint professorships• University grants – support or lecturers • Postdoctoral fellowships• Postgraduate bursaries• Undergraduate bursaries• Internships• Technician training – national diplomas

at universities of technology• FET (artisan) training (from Carnarvon)

– 9 taken in 2010, 8 employed at SKA SA– Successful initiative– 15 taken in for 2012

• Development of astrophysics and related engineering in Africa partner states

• Mobility grants

A focused and structured programme with a pipeline strategy

Africa HCD workshop at KAT 7 site (May 2011)

Lots of enthusiasm to work with African universities

Astrophysics in Nairobi

• CONGRATULATIONS TO UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI ON FIRST 18 GRADUATES IN ASTROPHYSICS

• A DIRECT RESULT OF SKA!• STAY IN THE FIELD – DO HIGHER

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Post-graduate conference 2013

Delegates from African partners

Obinna Umeh - Nigeria

• An SKA PhD student supervised by (Clark) and George Ellis, has been an exceptional achiever. Obinna Umeh is about to graduate, having recently been awarded his PhD. An examiner from Oxford thought it a ”remarkable piece of work” and one of the ”most impressive theses I have read”. He has published 5 papers already, with two awaiting acceptance, including an invited Key Issues Review for Reports on Progress in Physics, a review journal with the highest impact factor in Physics. With an international collaborator, he has co-written a major new code for analytically calculating the Einstein equations to high accuracy. His work is high-impact: he has nearly 100 citations already.

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Cyber lab

The three signatures of an advanced country are technology, science & culture. Astronomy needs & enables them all – George Miley

www.ska.ac.za