The Square Kilometre Array is intended to be the next-generation radio wavelength observatory. With a Key Science
program addressing fundamental physics, astronomy, and astrobiology, the SKA will have a collecting area of up to one
million square metres spread over at least 3000 km, providing a sensitivity 50 times higher than the Expanded Very
Large Array, and an instantaneous field of view (FoV) of at least several tens of square degrees and possibly 250 square
degrees. In this paper, we describe the main features of the SKA, paying attention to the design activities around the
world, and outline plans for the final design and phased implementation of the telescope.
The SKA will have a collecting area of up to one million square metres spread over at least 3000 km, providing a
sensitivity 50 times higher than the Expanded Very Large Array, and an instantaneous field of view (FoV) of at least
several tens of square degrees and possibly 250 square degrees. The SKA science impact will be widely felt in astroparticle
physics and cosmology, fundamental physics, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, solar system science and
astrobiology. In this paper, we describe the main features of the SKA, paying attention to the design activities around the
world, and outline plans for the final design and phased implementation of the telescope.
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a global project to design and build a new generation radio telescope at metre to centimetre wavelengths. It will have a collecting area of order one million square metres, a sensitivity 100 times higher than the VLA, an instantaneous field of view (FOV) of at least 1 square degree and, in some designs, more than one FOV allowing multiple simultaneous use. It will be an extremely powerful survey telescope with the capability to follow up individual objects with high angular and time resolution. The SKA will reach a point source sensitivity of 10 nano-Jy in 8 hours of integration, and a maximum resolution of 1 milli arcsec at 20 GHz with excellent imaging capability at all resolutions and frequencies. The SKA science impact will be felt in astro-particle physics and cosmology, fundamental physics, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, and solar system science. Technological innovation, closely paralleling commercial IT developments, is key to the design concepts under investigation and to the cost goal of USD1000/m2. The selection of technologies for the SKA is scheduled in early 2008. A number of possible locations for the telescope are under investigation with a choice scheduled in early 2006. Construction of the array will take most of the next decade.
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