Low Frequency Radio Astronomy and the LOFAR Observatory Lectures from the Third LOFAR Data Processing School

This book presents lecture materials from the Third LOFAR Data School, transformed into a coherent and complete reference book describing the LOFAR design, along with descriptions of primary science cases, data processing techniques, and recipes for data handling. Together with hands-on exercises the chapters, based on the lecture notes, teach fundamentals and practical knowledge. LOFAR is a new and innovative radio telescope operating at low radio frequencies (10-250 MHz) and is the first of a new generation of radio interferometers that are leading the way to the ambitious Square Kilometre Array (SKA) to be built in the next decade. This unique reference guide serves as a primary information source for research groups around the world that seek to make the most of LOFAR data, as well as those who will push these topics forward to the next level with the design, construction, and realization of the SKA. This book will also be useful as supplementary reading material for any astrophysics overview or astrophysical techniques course, particularly those geared towards radio astronomy (and radio astronomy techniques).

Introduction to Low Frequency Radio Astronomy.- LOFAR Overview.- LOFAR station processing.- RFI flagging, Demixing and Visibilities Compression.- Correlator and Online Processing.- Introduction to Calibration.- Error Analysis in LOFAR Data.- Calibration of LOFAR interferometric data.- Ionospheric Effects.- Wide Field Imaging.- The Standard Imaging Pipeline.- Polarization Imaging with LOFAR.- Long Baseline Imaging with LOFAR.- Calibration of LOFAR Spectral Line data.- Beam-formed Data with LOFAR.- Particle Physics with LOFAR.- High Time Resolution with LOFAR.

About the Editors:

George Heald received his PhD in 2006 from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA. He has held several leadership roles within the LOFAR collaboration as well as other international radio astronomy projects such as the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). He now holds the position of Science Leader at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's science agency, where he leads a research team focused on the low-frequency component of the forthcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

 

Roberto Pizzo received his PhD in Astronomy  in 2010 from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. In his career, he has lead various LOFAR projects as well as several programs associated with other radio facilities, such as WSRT/APERTIF. Currently, he is the Head of Science Operations and Support for LOFAR and WSRT/APERTIF at the Radio Observatory of ASTRON. In this position, he leads a team of astronomers tackling the challenges which will be common to next generation radio facilities, such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

John McKean received his PhD in Radio Astronomy from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, in 2004. He has held various research positions at the University of California, the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, with scientific interests in galaxy formation and testing models with dark matter using very long baseline interferometry. He is currently Professor for Radio Astronomy at the University of Groningen and a Staff Astronomer at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. His work at low frequencies is focussed on studying particle energetics within radio galaxies and high resolution imaging of gravitational lenses with the International LOFAR Telescope.