telescope array(s). Fundamental science • Extreme sensitivity • Extreme data generator • Global project. Ten member countries (5 more likely to join) • Phase 1 construction around 2020 • 30-50 years operations • Price tag in billions of Euro
Netherlands, Sweden, China, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand • India currently joining • Four intend to join – Japan, South Korea, France, USA • USA probably after 2020 (Decadal Review of Astronomy)
the Universe with the world’s largest radio telescope 254 dishes, including MeerKAT Phase I : 2020 Phase II : 2024 50 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz ~1,000,000 element Low Frequency Aperture Array 2500 dishes Mid Frequency Aperture Array Science 96 survey dishes, including ASKAP Cosmic Dawn & Reioniza$on Pulsars Cosmic Magne$sm Cradle of Life Cosmology & Galaxy Evolu$on €650M capital cost Cost to be determined
design • 2014 – 2016 Members seek SKA1 funding, following establishment of cost-cap and confirmation of SKA1 scope. • 2016/17 Establishment of new governance arrangements for the SKA Organisation • 2017 Tender for and procure construction of SKA1 • 2017 – 2020 Detailed design of SKA2 • 2018 – 2021 Construction of SKA1 • 2020 Early science with some components of SKA1 • 2019 – 2021 Seek SKA2 construction funding • 2022 – 2027 Construction of SKA2 Long term project!
infrastructure in Africa – the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope • A breakthrough for Africa in how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us • African scientists to do big science and fundamental science and high-tech – Nobel Prizes from Africa, by Africans • Exciting projects to attract young people into science and technology and keep them in Africa
by Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act • Access roads, 33kV specially designed powerline (no sparking), 10Gb/s optical fibre, buildings etc. built for Kat 7 • Roads, airstrip, buildings, sub-station upgrade for MeerKAT
and Technology to declare protected areas around strategic astronomy sites by regulation • Covers both radio and optical astronomy • The Act establishes an AGA Management Authority to regulate and enforce • Three tiers of protected areas: • Core area – the physical area of the observatory / instrument • Central area – surrounds the core area. Minister prohibits certain activities / categories of activities in this area • Coordination area –Minister sets standards which activities must comply with • Protected areas apply to existing and new activities • The Act prevails over existing Electronic Communications Act, where protection of radio astronomy is concerned
(monitor and control) – Science Data Processor – Signal and Data Transport – Infrastructure and Power – Low frequency Sparse Aperture Arrays – Mid Frequency Dense Aperture Arrays – Phased array- & wideband single pixel feeds – Assembly Integration and Verification
Into Correlator 2 Tbps 50 Tbps up to 5 Pbps Into Science Processor 0.4 Tbps 20 Tbps up to 500 Tbps Into Archive 35 Gbps 300+ Gbps up to 2 Tbps Compute load 200 TFlops 30+ PFlops 3+ EFlops … Incoming Data from collectors Switch Switch Correlator Beamformer Science Processor Science Archive * SKA Phase 2 data rates are still fairly speculative
Cambridge • Major radio astronomy research institutes are members incl. SKA SA, ASTRON • Broad range of ICT companies expected to be involved: Intel, IBM, NVIDIA, Cray, etc • ``Open Architecture Lab’’ • RfP submission under evaluation by SKA Org • Work has started as of Nov 2013 • Phase 1 specification and design (through 2016)
– Financial Assistance Programme) • CASPER – DSP processing platforms (ROACH) • DOME - various aspects of HPC (towards exascale) • Intel - next generation technology • IBM USA - machine learning • Nokia Siemens - data transport • CISCO • Many universities and institutes Other discussions underway
Data creating entirely new industries which will be very dominant in the global economy – millions or billions of sensors sending streams of data; huge data sets requiring ultra-fast computing, analysis and visualisation, storage. • SKA >100 x the data traffic of the world-wide web. – An exabyte of data per day – 1018 bytes – Exaflop computing speeds – current best is some petaflops. Equivalent would be ~ 108 laptops • Use SKA to get young people into Big Data, wireless, signal processing etc. so that Africa can play a world-leading role in these new industries.
in Africa • They have established the Africa-Europe Radio Astronomy Platform to mobilize funding and collaboration • Working with the European Parliament and Commission and with European and African astronomers on projects • Possible major new funding instruments
for new conversations, innovation, growth and change – New technologies, new science, new markets – Human capital development and skills - critical mass of young engineers and scientists with expertise in next-generation technologies (e.g. Big Data; digital signal processing; HPC; control etc.) and science – Strengthen fundamental and applied research – Stimulating interest in science and engineering – Making the most of the opportunity Global endeavour, global opportunity
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