Studying Black Holes with LOFAR at the IoP

Another LOFAR talk for NSEW next week:

IoP talk: Studying Black Holes, Pulsars and the Explosive Universe with The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR)

Wednesday 16th March 2011. 7-8pm. LTM University of Surrey. 

Open to the public, admission free

by Martin Bell (Southampton PhD Student who helped to build LOFAR-UK)

The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) is Europe's newest and most sophisticated radio telescope. It is also one of Europe's largest radio telescopes; it consists of a network of small radio telescopes – or 'ears' - spread out across Europe, which are connected together via the internet. When connected together this network forms a European size radio telescope and is the largest on Earth. The UK has just completed its contribution to the European LOFAR project with the construction of the LOFAR Chilbolton telescope (30 minutes North of Southampton). Using this network of telescopes we can 'listen in' on the most explosive and energetic events in the Universe. In this talk we will find out how the LOFAR radio telescope works; how we can use it to study Black Holes and Pulsars; and also what the future holds for radio astronomy.  

LOFAR UK is supported by SEPnet.

More details.

LBA cabling nearly done

Here are some photographs of the work being done on the LBA cable grave.

Martin Bell pulls back some of the final cables across the LBA grave. This is the last time they will look all neat and tidy.


Now that the cables have been all patched in, the cables in the grave are "shuffled about" to make them sit better and reduce stress points. This does make them look rather messy, but it does help ensure cable integrity.


The next step is the covering of the cables with the protective sand layer.


Then the crew move their way up towards the RF container, following the feeder trenches.


Almost there.


Finally, the sand covers all the cables. Warning tape is placed over the area (should anyone excavate in this area in future). Then all the graves are backfilled.