Pivotal SKA technology is being demonstrated with design studies and a suite of precursor and pathfinder telescopes by SKA groups around the world.
The SKA Science and Engineering Committee (now disbanded) approved the following SKA precursors, pathfinders and design studies:
Precursor facility
Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP)
MeerKAT
Murchison Widefield Array (MWA).
Pathfinder
APERture Tile In Focus (APERTIF)
Arecibo Observatory
Allen Telescope Array (ATA)
electronic European VLBI Network (eEVN)
Electronic MultiBeam Radio Astronomy ConcEpt (EMBRACE)
e-MERLIN
Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA)
LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR)
Long Wavelength Array (LWA)
SKA Molonglo Prototype (SKAMP).
Design Study
Aperture Array Verification Programme (AAVP)
Canadian SKA Program
Preparatory Study for the SKA (PrepSKA)
European SKA Design Study (SKADS)
US Technology Development Project (TDP).
Further information about SKA precursors, pathfinders and design studies can be obtained from Colin Greenwood, Company Secretary.
Definitions of precursors, pathfinders and design studies
These definitions were approved by the SSEC (now disbanded) for use during the preliminary phase of the project.
Precursor facility
A telescope on one of the two SKA candidate sites, carrying out SKA-related activity.
Pathfinder
SKA-related technology, science and operations activity.
Design study
A study of one or more major sub-systems of the SKA design, including the construction of prototypes.
In order for a project or facility to be awarded the title of SKA precursor, pathfinder or design study, there must be a mechanism in place for communicating results to the international SKA project.
Definition of a contribution to the SKA programme
These definitions were approved by the SSEC (now disbanded) for use during the preliminary phase of the project.
A contribution must satisfy one or more of the following criteria in the areas of technology, science and operations:
- It contains new technical elements that have not been tried before on the scale of a large telescope and which are part of the SKA Reference Design – technology.
- It will carry out observational tests, both simulated and real, that explore new capabilities at flux density and dynamic range levels similar to or scalable to the full SKA – science.
- It tests methods of scheduling and allocating time similar, or scalable to, that needed for the SKA – operations.
The SKA Organisation is the sole arbitor for designating national, regional, and institutional contributions to the SKA as precursor, design study or pathfinder. In all cases, there must be a clearly defined path for the results of the activity to reach, and potentially influence, the international SKA project, and this should be officially recognised by the SKA Organisation before the designation precursor, design study or pathfinder can be adopted.
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