Update On The Square Kilometer Array World Space Congress October 15, 2002 Jill Tarter What Is The SKA? An enormous increase in the capability for groundbased radio astronomy Increase in sensitivity by a factor of 100 above current arrays Wide range of science drivers Looking back to the dawn of galaxy formation Mapping the structure of the early universe Searching for evidence of other technological civilizations Building to start ~2010 Born international Stawman Design Goals Timeline Annual science/technology workshops began in 1997 Science With The SKA published in MOU signed by representatives of 27 groups from 11 countries International SKA Steering Committee formed 7 Whitepaper end-to-end concepts submitted and reviewed now being revised Second round concept papers in 2004 Concept and site selection Construction begins in 2010 Radio Telescope Sensitivity Jansky the beginning Radio Telescope Sensitivity Exponential increase in sensitivity x 10 5 since 1940 ! Spectra of QSOs show many Ly-a absorption lines due to low col. density H N-body simulations predict the existence of a cosmic web Complicated structure of filaments and sheets of material SKA will detect this web In HI emission! The Cosmic Web Normal Galaxies At Large z SKAs 1 o field-of-view HST SKA 6cm ALMA 15 Mpc at z = 2 SKA 20 cm for surveys and transient events in 10 6 galaxies ! Redshift Surveys SKA SKA Poster Many beams offer great flexibility Many targets/usersInterference rejection Chinese - KARST FAST A 500m Demonstrator Canadian - LAR Tether Concept LAR Prototyping 4 Focal Plane Array packages covering GHz RF Feed design Beam forming Reflector actuators Instrument Platform Balloon and tail inflated 1/3 scale aerostat demonstrator funded US Large-N/Small-D m antennas within 35 km core 84 stations km 76 stations km Inexpensive, hydroformed dishes Based On The ATA Indian - Preloaded Parabolic Dishes European Phased Array Tiles First Prototype Tile Of 1024 Elements Australian Luneburg Lens How Does This Work? Multiple Feeds And Beams 7-arm Spiral Configuration Australian Cylindrical Reflector RF and Digital Beamforming Cylindrical Lens Configuration The Square Kilometer Array Like SETI, the SKA is intrinsically international Decision on concept and site(s) ~ 2005 For SETI, factor of 100 in sensitivity another factor of 10 in distance Expand The Galactic Exploration ATA Phoenix SKA