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Dishes will form a substantial part of the SKA; around 3000 dishes, each 15 m in diameter, are currently planned. Many aspects of the SKA dish-design challenge are without precedent, not only because of the large numbers of dishes required, but also because of the huge sensitivity that will result.
The SKA will use around 3000 dishes, each 15 m in diameter (one possible design option is shown here).
Although sensitivity is a strong driver of the SKA system design, there is also a need to carry out surveys of large regions of the sky.
A small number of large dishes could provide high sensitivity but many smaller dishes with larger field of view offer the prospect of faster surveys of the sky.
This trade-off has resulted in the adoption of dishes with a diameter of 15 m to give both a good field of view whilst also allowing high sensitivity for a reasonable cost.
The following are some of the major requirements that are being addressed as part of the dish design process:
- Imaging dynamic range
- Design for mass manufacture
- Low operating cost per dish
- Rapid installation with minimum manpower and equipment
- Feed flexibility
- Maximum sensitivity per dish
Artist’s impression of the central core of dishes at the centre of the array.
No existing radio telescope design has matched these requirements in combination.
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