Abstract
We describe a Phased Array Feed (PAF) system, called Apertif, which will
be installed in the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). The aim
of Apertif is, at frequencies from 1.0 to 1.7 GHz, to increase the
instantaneous field of view of the WSRT 8 deg^2 and its observing
bandwidth to 300 MHz with high spectral resolution. This system will
turn the WSRT into an effective survey telescope with scientific
applications ranging from deep surveys of the northern sky of HI and OH
emission and polarised continuum to efficient searches for pulsars and
transients. We present results obtained with a prototype PAF installed
in one of the WSRT dishes. These results demonstrate that at decimetre
wavelengths PAFs have excellent performance and that even for a single
beam on the sky they outperform single feed radio dishes. PAFs turn
radio telescopes into very effective survey instruments. Apertif is now
fully funded and the community is invited to express their interest in
using Apertif
(http://www.astron.nl/radio-observatory/call-expressions-interest-apertif-surveys
)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | "Proceedings of the ISKAF2010 Science Meeting. June 10 -14 2010. Assen, the Netherlands. Published online at http://pos.sissa.it/cgi-bin/reader/conf.cgi?confid=112, p.43" |
| Pages | 43- |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |