Recently, the BLINK group (led by the project proposer) reported detection of one low-frequency FRB in archival data from the MWA pulsar survey SMART. It was possible thanks to their extremely efficient imaging processing pipeline using modern Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) in the Setonix supercomputer at Pawsey Supercomputer in Perth. The novel pipeline is very fast and can process single 1h20m SMART observation in about 24 hours, in comparison to weeks or months with traditional pipelines.
The goal of this project is to process more MWA data and try to discover new low-frequency FRBs, pulsars or other classes of short transients.
In result of this work we will be able to update the current estimates of FRB rates at these frequencies, and if any new FRBs, pulsars or transients are discovered we will analyse and characterise their physical properties. Any potential new FRB detection will be a very high impact project as only a handful (3 or so) FRBs have been detected at these frequencies. Students interested in software development aspects will have a chance to work on further optimisations of the BLINK processing pipeline to make it even faster, more efficient and help to detect more low-frequency FRBs.
Example image from BLINK pipeline shown the Crab Nebula (left) and dispersed giant pulse from the Crab pulsar (right).
| Student attributes | |
| Academic background | Introductory Physics course |
| Computing skills | Computer programming in at least one language (Python or C/C++). |
| Training requirement | None-critical. |
| Project timeline | |
| Week 1 | Inductions and project introduction |
| Week 2 | Initial presentation |
| Week 3 | Getting familiar with the execution of the BLINK pipeline. |
| Week 4 | Identification of relevant MWA observations |
| Week 5 | Execution of BLINK pipeline of identified MWA data to find new FRBs and benchmark pipeline performance. |
| Week 6 | Execution of BLINK pipeline of identified MWA data to find new FRBs and benchmark pipeline performance. |
| Week 7 | Verification identified FRB candidates. |
| Week 8 | Identification of main pipeline bottlenecks and places for improvements. Potentially, modify, test and benchmark the improved code. |
| Week 9 | Final presentation |
| Week 10 | Final report |