LOFAR: the low-frequency array

M.P. van Haarlem; M.W. Wise; A.W. Gunst; G. Heald; J.P. McKean; J.W.T. Hessels; A.G. de Bruyn; R. Nijboer; J. Swinbank; R. Fallows; M. Brentjens; A. Nelles; R. Beck; H. Falcke; R. Fender; J. Hörandel; L.V.E Koopmans; G. Mann; G. Miley; H. Röttgering; B.W. Stappers; R.A.M.J. Wijers; S. Zaroubi; M. van den Akker; A. Alexov; J. Anderson; K. Anderson; A. van Ardenne; M. Arts; A. Asgekar; I.M. Avruch; F. Batejat; L. Bähren; M.E. Bell; M.R. Bell; I. van Bemmel; P. Bennema; Marinus Jan Bentum; G. Bernardi; P. Best; L. Birzan; A. Bonafede; A.J. Boonstra; R. Braun; J. Bregman; F. Breitling; R.H. van de Brink; J. Broderick; P.C. Broekema; W.N. Brouw; M. Brüggen; H.R. Butcher; W. van Capellen; B. Ciardi; T. Coenen; J. Conway; A. Coolen; A. Corstanje; S. Damstra; O. Davies; A.T. Deller; R.J. Dettmar; G. Diepen; K. Dijkstra; P. Donker; A. Doorduin; J. Dromer; M. Drost; A. van Duin; J. Eislöffel; J. van Enst; C. Ferrari; W. Frieswijk; H. Gankema; M.A. Garrett; F. de Gasperin; M. Gerbers; E. de Geus; J.M. Griessmeier; T. Grit; P. Gruppen; J.P. Hamaker; T. Hassall; M. Hoeft; H. Holties; A. Horneffer; A. van der Horst; A. van Houwelingen; G. Huijgen; M. Iacobelli; H. Intema; N. Jackson; V. Jelic; A. de Jong; E. Juette; D. Kant; A. Karastergiou; A. Koers; H. Kollen; E. Kooistra; Y. Koopman; A. Koster; M. Kuniyoshi; M. Kramer; G. Kuper; P. Lambropoulos; C. Law; J. van Leeuwen; J. Lemaitre; M. Loose; P. Maat; G. Macario; S. Markoff; J. Masters; D. McKay-Bukowski; H. Meijering; H. Meulman; M. Mevius; E. Middelberg; R. Millenaar; J.C.A Miller-Jones; R.N. Mohan; J.D. Mol; J. Morawietz; R. Morganti; D.D. Mulcahy; E. Mulder; H. Munk; L. Nieuwenhuis; R. van Nieuwpoort; J.E. Noordam; M. Norden; A. Noutsos; A.R. Offringa; T. Olofsson; A. Omar; E. Orrú; R. Overeem; H. Paas; M. Pandey-Pommier; V.N. Pandey; R. Pizzo; A. Polatidis; D. Rafferty; S. Rawlings; W. Reich; J.-P. de Reijer; J. Reitsma; A. Renting; P. Riemers; E. Rol; J.W. Romein; J. Roosjen; M. Ruiter; A. Scaife; K. van der Schaaf; B. Scheers; P. Schellart; A. Schoenmakers; G. Schoonderbeek; M. Serylak; A. Shulevski; J. Sluman; O. Smirnov; C. Sobey; H. Spreeuw; M. Steinmetz; C.G.M. Sterks; H.-J. Stiepel; K. Stuurwold; M. van Veelen; A.J. van der Veen; S. ter Veen; J.P.W. Verbiest; R. Vermeulen; N. Vermaas; C. Vocks; C. Vogt; M. Vos; E. van der Wal; R. van Weeren; W. Weggemans; P. Weltevrede; S. White; S.J. Wijnholds; T. Wilhelmsson; O. Wucknitz; S. Yatawatta; P. Zarka; A. Zensus; J. van Zwieten

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

LOFAR: the low-frequency array

M.P. van Haarlem, M.W. Wise, A.W. Gunst, G. Heald, J.P. McKean, J.W.T. Hessels, A.G. de Bruyn, R. Nijboer, J. Swinbank, R. Fallows, M. Brentjens, A. Nelles, R. Beck, H. Falcke, R. Fender, J. Hörandel, L.V.E Koopmans, G. Mann, G. Miley, H. RöttgeringB.W. Stappers, R.A.M.J. Wijers, S. Zaroubi, M. van den Akker, A. Alexov, J. Anderson, K. Anderson, A. van Ardenne, M. Arts, A. Asgekar, I.M. Avruch, F. Batejat, L. Bähren, M.E. Bell, M.R. Bell, I. van Bemmel, P. Bennema, Marinus Jan Bentum, G. Bernardi, P. Best, L. Birzan, A. Bonafede, A.J. Boonstra, R. Braun, J. Bregman, F. Breitling, R.H. van de Brink, J. Broderick, P.C. Broekema, W.N. Brouw, M. Brüggen, H.R. Butcher, W. van Capellen, B. Ciardi, T. Coenen, J. Conway, A. Coolen, A. Corstanje, S. Damstra, O. Davies, A.T. Deller, R.J. Dettmar, G. Diepen, K. Dijkstra, P. Donker, A. Doorduin, J. Dromer, M. Drost, A. van Duin, J. Eislöffel, J. van Enst, C. Ferrari, W. Frieswijk, H. Gankema, M.A. Garrett, F. de Gasperin, M. Gerbers, E. de Geus, J.M. Griessmeier, T. Grit, P. Gruppen, J.P. Hamaker, T. Hassall, M. Hoeft, H. Holties, A. Horneffer, A. van der Horst, A. van Houwelingen, G. Huijgen, M. Iacobelli, H. Intema, N. Jackson, V. Jelic, A. de Jong, E. Juette, D. Kant, A. Karastergiou, A. Koers, H. Kollen, E. Kooistra, Y. Koopman, A. Koster, M. Kuniyoshi, M. Kramer, G. Kuper, P. Lambropoulos, C. Law, J. van Leeuwen, J. Lemaitre, M. Loose, P. Maat, G. Macario, S. Markoff, J. Masters, D. McKay-Bukowski, H. Meijering, H. Meulman, M. Mevius, E. Middelberg, R. Millenaar, J.C.A Miller-Jones, R.N. Mohan, J.D. Mol, J. Morawietz, R. Morganti, D.D. Mulcahy, E. Mulder, H. Munk, L. Nieuwenhuis, R. van Nieuwpoort, J.E. Noordam, M. Norden, A. Noutsos, A.R. Offringa, T. Olofsson, A. Omar, E. Orrú, R. Overeem, H. Paas, M. Pandey-Pommier, V.N. Pandey, R. Pizzo, A. Polatidis, D. Rafferty, S. Rawlings, W. Reich, J.-P. de Reijer, J. Reitsma, A. Renting, P. Riemers, E. Rol, J.W. Romein, J. Roosjen, M. Ruiter, A. Scaife, K. van der Schaaf, B. Scheers, P. Schellart, A. Schoenmakers, G. Schoonderbeek, M. Serylak, A. Shulevski, J. Sluman, O. Smirnov, C. Sobey, H. Spreeuw, M. Steinmetz, C.G.M. Sterks, H.-J. Stiepel, K. Stuurwold, M. van Veelen, A.J. van der Veen, S. ter Veen, J.P.W. Verbiest, R. Vermeulen, N. Vermaas, C. Vocks, C. Vogt, M. Vos, E. van der Wal, R. van Weeren, W. Weggemans, P. Weltevrede, S. White, S.J. Wijnholds, T. Wilhelmsson, O. Wucknitz, S. Yatawatta, P. Zarka, A. Zensus, J. van Zwieten

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1711 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10–240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR’s new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-53
Number of pages	53
Journal	Astronomy & astrophysics
Volume	556
Issue number	A2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220873
Publication status	Published - Aug 2013

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10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

Cite this

van Haarlem, M. P., Wise, M. W., Gunst, A. W., Heald, G., McKean, J. P., Hessels, J. W. T., de Bruyn, A. G., Nijboer, R., Swinbank, J., Fallows, R., Brentjens, M., Nelles, A., Beck, R., Falcke, H., Fender, R., Hörandel, J., Koopmans, L. V. E., Mann, G., Miley, G., ... van Zwieten, J. (2013). LOFAR: the low-frequency array. Astronomy & astrophysics, 556(A2), 1-53. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

@article{a19028aea2674e5a82bb5500bb160fa9,

title = "LOFAR: the low-frequency array",

abstract = "LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10–240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR{\textquoteright}s new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.",

author = "{van Haarlem}, M.P. and M.W. Wise and A.W. Gunst and G. Heald and J.P. McKean and J.W.T. Hessels and {de Bruyn}, A.G. and R. Nijboer and J. Swinbank and R. Fallows and M. Brentjens and A. Nelles and R. Beck and H. Falcke and R. Fender and J. H{\"o}randel and L.V.E Koopmans and G. Mann and G. Miley and H. R{\"o}ttgering and B.W. Stappers and R.A.M.J. Wijers and S. Zaroubi and {van den Akker}, M. and A. Alexov and J. Anderson and K. Anderson and {van Ardenne}, A. and M. Arts and A. Asgekar and I.M. Avruch and F. Batejat and L. B{\"a}hren and M.E. Bell and M.R. Bell and {van Bemmel}, I. and P. Bennema and Bentum, {Marinus Jan} and G. Bernardi and P. Best and L. Birzan and A. Bonafede and A.J. Boonstra and R. Braun and J. Bregman and F. Breitling and {van de Brink}, R.H. and J. Broderick and P.C. Broekema and W.N. Brouw and M. Br{\"u}ggen and H.R. Butcher and {van Capellen}, W. and B. Ciardi and T. Coenen and J. Conway and A. Coolen and A. Corstanje and S. Damstra and O. Davies and A.T. Deller and R.J. Dettmar and G. Diepen and K. Dijkstra and P. Donker and A. Doorduin and J. Dromer and M. Drost and {van Duin}, A. and J. Eisl{\"o}ffel and {van Enst}, J. and C. Ferrari and W. Frieswijk and H. Gankema and M.A. Garrett and {de Gasperin}, F. and M. Gerbers and {de Geus}, E. and J.M. Griessmeier and T. Grit and P. Gruppen and J.P. Hamaker and T. Hassall and M. Hoeft and H. Holties and A. Horneffer and {van der Horst}, A. and {van Houwelingen}, A. and G. Huijgen and M. Iacobelli and H. Intema and N. Jackson and V. Jelic and {de Jong}, A. and E. Juette and D. Kant and A. Karastergiou and A. Koers and H. Kollen and E. Kooistra and Y. Koopman and A. Koster and M. Kuniyoshi and M. Kramer and G. Kuper and P. Lambropoulos and C. Law and {van Leeuwen}, J. and J. Lemaitre and M. Loose and P. Maat and G. Macario and S. Markoff and J. Masters and D. McKay-Bukowski and H. Meijering and H. Meulman and M. Mevius and E. Middelberg and R. Millenaar and J.C.A Miller-Jones and R.N. Mohan and J.D. Mol and J. Morawietz and R. Morganti and D.D. Mulcahy and E. Mulder and H. Munk and L. Nieuwenhuis and {van Nieuwpoort}, R. and J.E. Noordam and M. Norden and A. Noutsos and A.R. Offringa and T. Olofsson and A. Omar and E. Orr{\'u} and R. Overeem and H. Paas and M. Pandey-Pommier and V.N. Pandey and R. Pizzo and A. Polatidis and D. Rafferty and S. Rawlings and W. Reich and {de Reijer}, J.-P. and J. Reitsma and A. Renting and P. Riemers and E. Rol and J.W. Romein and J. Roosjen and M. Ruiter and A. Scaife and {van der Schaaf}, K. and B. Scheers and P. Schellart and A. Schoenmakers and G. Schoonderbeek and M. Serylak and A. Shulevski and J. Sluman and O. Smirnov and C. Sobey and H. Spreeuw and M. Steinmetz and C.G.M. Sterks and H.-J. Stiepel and K. Stuurwold and {van Veelen}, M. and {van der Veen}, A.J. and {ter Veen}, S. and J.P.W. Verbiest and R. Vermeulen and N. Vermaas and C. Vocks and C. Vogt and M. Vos and {van der Wal}, E. and {van Weeren}, R. and W. Weggemans and P. Weltevrede and S. White and S.J. Wijnholds and T. Wilhelmsson and O. Wucknitz and S. Yatawatta and P. Zarka and A. Zensus and {van Zwieten}, J.",

note = "eemcs-eprint-24507 ",

year = "2013",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201220873",

language = "English",

volume = "556",

pages = "1--53",

journal = "Astronomy & astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

number = "A2",

}

van Haarlem, MP, Wise, MW, Gunst, AW, Heald, G, McKean, JP, Hessels, JWT, de Bruyn, AG, Nijboer, R, Swinbank, J, Fallows, R, Brentjens, M, Nelles, A, Beck, R, Falcke, H, Fender, R, Hörandel, J, Koopmans, LVE, Mann, G, Miley, G, Röttgering, H, Stappers, BW, Wijers, RAMJ, Zaroubi, S, van den Akker, M, Alexov, A, Anderson, J, Anderson, K, van Ardenne, A, Arts, M, Asgekar, A, Avruch, IM, Batejat, F, Bähren, L, Bell, ME, Bell, MR, van Bemmel, I, Bennema, P, Bentum, MJ, Bernardi, G, Best, P, Birzan, L, Bonafede, A, Boonstra, AJ, Braun, R, Bregman, J, Breitling, F, van de Brink, RH, Broderick, J, Broekema, PC, Brouw, WN, Brüggen, M, Butcher, HR, van Capellen, W, Ciardi, B, Coenen, T, Conway, J, Coolen, A, Corstanje, A, Damstra, S, Davies, O, Deller, AT, Dettmar, RJ, Diepen, G, Dijkstra, K, Donker, P, Doorduin, A, Dromer, J, Drost, M, van Duin, A, Eislöffel, J, van Enst, J, Ferrari, C, Frieswijk, W, Gankema, H, Garrett, MA, de Gasperin, F, Gerbers, M, de Geus, E, Griessmeier, JM, Grit, T, Gruppen, P, Hamaker, JP, Hassall, T, Hoeft, M, Holties, H, Horneffer, A, van der Horst, A, van Houwelingen, A, Huijgen, G, Iacobelli, M, Intema, H, Jackson, N, Jelic, V, de Jong, A, Juette, E, Kant, D, Karastergiou, A, Koers, A, Kollen, H, Kooistra, E, Koopman, Y, Koster, A, Kuniyoshi, M, Kramer, M, Kuper, G, Lambropoulos, P, Law, C, van Leeuwen, J, Lemaitre, J, Loose, M, Maat, P, Macario, G, Markoff, S, Masters, J, McKay-Bukowski, D, Meijering, H, Meulman, H, Mevius, M, Middelberg, E, Millenaar, R, Miller-Jones, JCA, Mohan, RN, Mol, JD, Morawietz, J, Morganti, R, Mulcahy, DD, Mulder, E, Munk, H, Nieuwenhuis, L, van Nieuwpoort, R, Noordam, JE, Norden, M, Noutsos, A, Offringa, AR, Olofsson, T, Omar, A, Orrú, E, Overeem, R, Paas, H, Pandey-Pommier, M, Pandey, VN, Pizzo, R, Polatidis, A, Rafferty, D, Rawlings, S, Reich, W, de Reijer, J-P, Reitsma, J, Renting, A, Riemers, P, Rol, E, Romein, JW, Roosjen, J, Ruiter, M, Scaife, A, van der Schaaf, K, Scheers, B, Schellart, P, Schoenmakers, A, Schoonderbeek, G, Serylak, M, Shulevski, A, Sluman, J, Smirnov, O, Sobey, C, Spreeuw, H, Steinmetz, M, Sterks, CGM, Stiepel, H-J, Stuurwold, K, van Veelen, M, van der Veen, AJ, ter Veen, S, Verbiest, JPW, Vermeulen, R, Vermaas, N, Vocks, C, Vogt, C, Vos, M, van der Wal, E, van Weeren, R, Weggemans, W, Weltevrede, P, White, S, Wijnholds, SJ, Wilhelmsson, T, Wucknitz, O, Yatawatta, S, Zarka, P, Zensus, A & van Zwieten, J 2013, 'LOFAR: the low-frequency array', Astronomy & astrophysics, vol. 556, no. A2, pp. 1-53. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

TY - JOUR

T1 - LOFAR: the low-frequency array

AU - van Haarlem, M.P.

AU - Wise, M.W.

AU - Gunst, A.W.

AU - Heald, G.

AU - McKean, J.P.

AU - Hessels, J.W.T.

AU - de Bruyn, A.G.

AU - Nijboer, R.

AU - Swinbank, J.

AU - Fallows, R.

AU - Brentjens, M.

AU - Nelles, A.

AU - Beck, R.

AU - Falcke, H.

AU - Fender, R.

AU - Hörandel, J.

AU - Koopmans, L.V.E

AU - Mann, G.

AU - Miley, G.

AU - Röttgering, H.

AU - Stappers, B.W.

AU - Wijers, R.A.M.J.

AU - Zaroubi, S.

AU - van den Akker, M.

AU - Alexov, A.

AU - Anderson, J.

AU - Anderson, K.

AU - van Ardenne, A.

AU - Arts, M.

AU - Asgekar, A.

AU - Avruch, I.M.

AU - Batejat, F.

AU - Bähren, L.

AU - Bell, M.E.

AU - Bell, M.R.

AU - van Bemmel, I.

AU - Bennema, P.

AU - Bentum, Marinus Jan

AU - Bernardi, G.

AU - Best, P.

AU - Birzan, L.

AU - Bonafede, A.

AU - Boonstra, A.J.

AU - Braun, R.

AU - Bregman, J.

AU - Breitling, F.

AU - van de Brink, R.H.

AU - Broderick, J.

AU - Broekema, P.C.

AU - Brouw, W.N.

AU - Brüggen, M.

AU - Butcher, H.R.

AU - van Capellen, W.

AU - Ciardi, B.

AU - Coenen, T.

AU - Conway, J.

AU - Coolen, A.

AU - Corstanje, A.

AU - Damstra, S.

AU - Davies, O.

AU - Deller, A.T.

AU - Dettmar, R.J.

AU - Diepen, G.

AU - Dijkstra, K.

AU - Donker, P.

AU - Doorduin, A.

AU - Dromer, J.

AU - Drost, M.

AU - van Duin, A.

AU - Eislöffel, J.

AU - van Enst, J.

AU - Ferrari, C.

AU - Frieswijk, W.

AU - Gankema, H.

AU - Garrett, M.A.

AU - de Gasperin, F.

AU - Gerbers, M.

AU - de Geus, E.

AU - Griessmeier, J.M.

AU - Grit, T.

AU - Gruppen, P.

AU - Hamaker, J.P.

AU - Hassall, T.

AU - Hoeft, M.

AU - Holties, H.

AU - Horneffer, A.

AU - van der Horst, A.

AU - van Houwelingen, A.

AU - Huijgen, G.

AU - Iacobelli, M.

AU - Intema, H.

AU - Jackson, N.

AU - Jelic, V.

AU - de Jong, A.

AU - Juette, E.

AU - Kant, D.

AU - Karastergiou, A.

AU - Koers, A.

AU - Kollen, H.

AU - Kooistra, E.

AU - Koopman, Y.

AU - Koster, A.

AU - Kuniyoshi, M.

AU - Kramer, M.

AU - Kuper, G.

AU - Lambropoulos, P.

AU - Law, C.

AU - van Leeuwen, J.

AU - Lemaitre, J.

AU - Loose, M.

AU - Maat, P.

AU - Macario, G.

AU - Markoff, S.

AU - Masters, J.

AU - McKay-Bukowski, D.

AU - Meijering, H.

AU - Meulman, H.

AU - Mevius, M.

AU - Middelberg, E.

AU - Millenaar, R.

AU - Miller-Jones, J.C.A

AU - Mohan, R.N.

AU - Mol, J.D.

AU - Morawietz, J.

AU - Morganti, R.

AU - Mulcahy, D.D.

AU - Mulder, E.

AU - Munk, H.

AU - Nieuwenhuis, L.

AU - van Nieuwpoort, R.

AU - Noordam, J.E.

AU - Norden, M.

AU - Noutsos, A.

AU - Offringa, A.R.

AU - Olofsson, T.

AU - Omar, A.

AU - Orrú, E.

AU - Overeem, R.

AU - Paas, H.

AU - Pandey-Pommier, M.

AU - Pandey, V.N.

AU - Pizzo, R.

AU - Polatidis, A.

AU - Rafferty, D.

AU - Rawlings, S.

AU - Reich, W.

AU - de Reijer, J.-P.

AU - Reitsma, J.

AU - Renting, A.

AU - Riemers, P.

AU - Rol, E.

AU - Romein, J.W.

AU - Roosjen, J.

AU - Ruiter, M.

AU - Scaife, A.

AU - van der Schaaf, K.

AU - Scheers, B.

AU - Schellart, P.

AU - Schoenmakers, A.

AU - Schoonderbeek, G.

AU - Serylak, M.

AU - Shulevski, A.

AU - Sluman, J.

AU - Smirnov, O.

AU - Sobey, C.

AU - Spreeuw, H.

AU - Steinmetz, M.

AU - Sterks, C.G.M.

AU - Stiepel, H.-J.

AU - Stuurwold, K.

AU - van Veelen, M.

AU - van der Veen, A.J.

AU - ter Veen, S.

AU - Verbiest, J.P.W.

AU - Vermeulen, R.

AU - Vermaas, N.

AU - Vocks, C.

AU - Vogt, C.

AU - Vos, M.

AU - van der Wal, E.

AU - van Weeren, R.

AU - Weggemans, W.

AU - Weltevrede, P.

AU - White, S.

AU - Wijnholds, S.J.

AU - Wilhelmsson, T.

AU - Wucknitz, O.

AU - Yatawatta, S.

AU - Zarka, P.

AU - Zensus, A.

AU - van Zwieten, J.

N1 - eemcs-eprint-24507

PY - 2013/8

Y1 - 2013/8

N2 - LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10–240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR’s new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

AB - LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10–240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR’s new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

M3 - Article

VL - 556

SP - 1

EP - 53

JO - Astronomy & astrophysics

JF - Astronomy & astrophysics

SN - 0004-6361

IS - A2

ER -

LOFAR: the low-frequency array

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