The Square Kilometre Array - New Technology Developments and Project Update

Engineers Australia Talk
Professor Peter Hall
5:30pm, 15th September, 2011

The SKA will be the world's largest radio telescope and one of the iconic mega- science instruments of the 21st century. The core of the telescope will be located in either Western Australia or South Africa and the first phase of construction is set to begin in 2016. The last year has seen a number of important project developments in the lead-up to the 2012 site selection and ensuing pre-construction activities. Just as importantly, SKA pathfinder telescopes are now beginning to demonstrate pivotal technologies and, in some cases, produce hints of the exciting science to come.

This presentation will give an update of recent project progress and will outline some of the technologies and techniques flowing from the SKA. In many cases these are applicable beyond astronomy, and requirements for new antennas, sensitive receivers, radio-quiet electronics, and transport and processing of very high data rates and volumes, yield solutions of interest to designers of other leading-edge systems. With Western Australia being a possible SKA site, the presentation will also outline briefly areas where local engineering capacity could be important in up-coming project activities.

More information (including a flyer and location details) at the Engineers Australia Website.