128 research outputs found
Beamforming approaches toward detecting the 21-cm global signal from Cosmic Dawn with radio array telescopes
The formation of the first stars and galaxies during 'Cosmic Dawn' is thought
to have imparted a faint signal onto the 21-cm spin temperature from atomic
Hydrogen gas in the early Universe. Observationally, an absorption feature
should be measurable as a frequency-dependence in the sky-averaged (i.e.
global) temperature at meter wavelengths. This signal should be separable from
the smooth -- but orders of magnitude brighter -- foregrounds by jointly
fitting a log-polynomial and absorption trough to radiometer spectra. A
majority of approaches to measure the global 21-cm signal use radiometer
systems on dipole-like antennas. Here, we argue that beamforming-based methods
may allow radio arrays to measure the global 21-cm signal. We simulate an
end-to-end drift-scan observation of the radio sky at 50--100 MHz using a
zenith-phased array, and find that the complex sidelobe structure introduces a
significant frequency-dependent systematic. However, the {\lambda}/D evolution
of the beam width with frequency does not confound detection. We conclude that
a beamformed array with a median sidelobe level around 50 dB below the main
beam may offer an alternative method to measure the global 21-cm signal. This
level is achievable by arrays with O(10^5) antennas.Comment: Accepted to PAS
Implementation of a Direct-Imaging and FX Correlator for the BEST-2 Array
A new digital backend has been developed for the BEST-2 array at
Radiotelescopi di Medicina, INAF-IRA, Italy which allows concurrent operation
of an FX correlator, and a direct-imaging correlator and beamformer. This
backend serves as a platform for testing some of the spatial Fourier transform
concepts which have been proposed for use in computing correlations on
regularly gridded arrays. While spatial Fourier transform-based beamformers
have been implemented previously, this is to our knowledge, the first time a
direct-imaging correlator has been deployed on a radio astronomy array.
Concurrent observations with the FX and direct-imaging correlator allows for
direct comparison between the two architectures. Additionally, we show the
potential of the direct-imaging correlator for time-domain astronomy, by
passing a subset of beams though a pulsar and transient detection pipeline.
These results provide a timely verification for spatial Fourier transform-based
instruments that are currently in commissioning. These instruments aim to
detect highly-redshifted hydrogen from the Epoch of Reionization and/or to
perform widefield surveys for time-domain studies of the radio sky. We
experimentally show the direct-imaging correlator architecture to be a viable
solution for correlation and beamforming.Comment: 12 pages, 17 figures, 2 tables, Accepted to MNRAS January 24, 2014,
includes appendix diagram
Potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida
Innovate UK. Grant Number: 105653 (RESOLVE) Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division. Grant Number: WP2.1 Scottish Funding Council. Grant Number: ODA GCRF XFC105Taxonomy: Phylum Nematoda; class Chromadorea; order Rhabditida; suborder Tylenchina; infraorder Tylenchomorpha; superfamily Tylenchoidea; family Heteroderidae; subfamily Heteroderinae; Genus Globodera. Biology: Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are biotrophic, sedentary endoparasitic nematodes. Invasive (second) stage juveniles (J2) hatch from eggs in response to the presence of host root exudates and subsequently locate and invade the host. The nematodes induce the formation of a large, multinucleate syncytium in host roots, formed by fusion of up to 300 root cell protoplasts. The nematodes rely on this single syncytium for the nutrients required to develop through a further three moults to the adult male or female stage. This extended period of biotrophy?between 4 and 6 weeks in total?is almost unparalleled in plant?pathogen interactions. Females remain at the root while adult males revert to the vermiform body plan of the J2 and leave the root to locate and fertilize the female nematodes. The female body forms a cyst that contains the next generation of eggs. Host range: The host range of PCN is limited to plants of the Solanaceae family. While the most economically important hosts are potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and aubergine (Solanum melongena), over 170 species of Solanaceae are thought to be potential hosts for PCN (Sullivan et al., 2007). Disease symptoms: Symptoms are similar to those associated with nutrient deficiency, such as stunted growth, yellowing of leaves and reduced yields. This absence of specific symptoms reduces awareness of the disease among growers. Disease control: Resistance genes (where available in suitable cultivars), application of nematicides, crop rotation. Great effort is put into reducing the spread of PCN through quarantine measures and use of certified seed stocks. Useful websites: Genomic information for PCN is accessible through WormBase ParaSite.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
No bursts detected from FRB121102 in two 5-hour observing campaigns with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope
Here, we report non-detection of radio bursts from Fast Radio Burst FRB
121102 during two 5-hour observation sessions on the Robert C. Byrd 100-m Green
Bank Telescope in West Virginia, USA, on December 11, 2017, and January 12,
2018. In addition, we report non-detection during an abutting 10-hour
observation with the Kunming 40-m telescope in China, which commenced UTC 10:00
January 12, 2018. These are among the longest published contiguous observations
of FRB 121102, and support the notion that FRB 121102 bursts are episodic.
These observations were part of a simultaneous optical and radio monitoring
campaign with the the Caltech HIgh- speed Multi-color CamERA (CHIMERA)
instrument on the Hale 5.1-m telescope.Comment: 1 table, Submitted to RN of AA
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