Radio Astronomy in Malaysia

Zamri Zainal AbidinRadio Cosmology Research Lab

(under the Advanced Fundamental Research Cluster)

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

and the vision of joining SKA

Zamri Zainal Abidin, Zainol Abidin Ibrahim, Norsiah Hashim, Roslan Umar, Ungku Ferwani Salwa, Zety Shahrizat, Mohd Shaiful Rizal, Wan Zul Adli,

Zulfazli Rosli, Noorkhallaf Noorazlan, Norsuzian Mohd Anim, Mohd Fairos Assilam, Radial Anwar, Tariqul Islam, Abdul Halim Abdul Aziz, Mas Md Said

(16 members)

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

2+2 Lecturers/Researchers4 Lecturers/PhD students8 MSc students4 BSc project students

Radio Astronomy in Malaysia

2005 –Jupiter radio storm detection2006 – Radio meteor observation2007 – Collaboration with Jodrell Bank Observatory2007 – UMRT-1 (1.5 m)2008 – SEAAN WG RA 2008 – Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)2008 – UMRT-2 (2.3 m) - Neutral Hydrogen2010 – Dark Matter Group2010 – Solar Radio Monitoring Group

2011 – RFI Study2011 – UMRT-3 (3.0 m) - Under construction2011 – MRT for LFs2011 – Outreach and Promotions2011 – Space Weather with e-CALLISTO2011 – Galaxy Clusters observation with 7-meter JBO radio telescope

2012 – UMRT-4 (7 m) with INSTUN2015 – UMRT-5 (15-20m) with National Space Agency (purchase from China)2022 – VLBI and SKA with MPIfR and JBO via SEAAN & EASKARFI StudyCosmology (Dark Matter)Space WeatherOutreach and Promotions

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Radio Astronomy in Malaysia– Types of Researchers

– Radio Astronomy Engineers– Radio Astronomy Scientists/Physicists

– Types of Science/Physics– Experimental / Observation– Theoretical

– SKA:– Michael Kramer (MPiFR)– Greta Collins Bo Peng Here– Internationalization:-SEAAN; VLBI with NZ; and SKA with EASKA-Participating country (or join a consortium) in SKA project-Science Working Group in SKA or telescope provider for baseline extension and link - Malaysia as a good bridging candidate for Oceania and Asia link (mentioned by Steven Tingay)

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Radio Astronomy in Malaysia• Main science goals:– Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Study

• Throughout Malaysia and Southeast Asia– Spectrum Management for Radio Astronomy

• Protecting Radio Astronomy Spectral Windows– Cosmology

• Dark Matter study (Rotation Curve)– Space Weather

• Solar radio monitoring: Magnetic storm study• Joint goals with South East Asia Astronomy Network

(SEAAN) WG Radio Astronomy:– Spectrum Management Project– Dark Matter, OH Masers, Pulsars and Black Holes

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

RFI Study• Identification of the lowest RFI level for building future radio

telescopes

• Instruments (e.g. Antenna, LNA, Motor, Spectrum Analyzer) • Radio Quiet Zone study

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Spectrum Management

– Radio Astronomy Frequency Committee in the Asia-Pacific region (RAFCAP) member

– Study/monitor RFI power level above permitted threshold set by ITU-R RA 769-2

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Cosmology

• Dark Matter study– Rotation Curves of galaxies• Collaboration with SISSA, Italy• Timeline: First year into 3-year joint-project

– Inter-galactic Dark Matter in galaxy clusters• Collaboration with JBO, United Kingdom• Timeline: First 6 months into 1 and half-year project

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Space Weather

• e-CALLISTO– Compact Astronomical Low-frequency, Low-cost

Instrument for Spectroscopy in Transportable Observatories

– Solar Radio Spectrometer for Solar weather study– Collaboration with ANGKASA and Institute of

Astronomy, Zurich– Timeline: Workshop/training in December 2011

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Working Group Radio Astronomy

• Malaysia• Thailand• Indonesia

• Common Projects• Spectrum Management• Interferometer Network

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Acknowledgement

• University of Malaya Grants– Research University Grant 2010-2013– Research University Grant 2008-2010

• MOSTI Grant– Science-Fund 2006-2009

• National Space Agency (ANGKASA)• Jodrell Bank Observatory (Manchester, UK)• WG RA, SEAAN• UKM, USM, UNISZA, UPSI

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011

Thank You감사합니다

Workshop on East-Asia Collaboration for SKA, Daejeon, Korea, Nov 30-Dec 2, 2011