Finalizing FPGA correlator and stepping towards 2D solar images from BDA-II

• Grant number: 14/00575-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: June 28, 2014
• End date: November 29, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Astronomical Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Hanumant Shankar Sawant
• Grantee: Hanumant Shankar Sawant
• Visiting researcher: Sandeep Kumar Sirothia
• Visiting researcher institution: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), India
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dr. Sandeep K. Sirothia participates in the development of the BDA project since 2004. During previous visits to the project, supported by FAPESP (Proc. 2011/17183-5), Dr. Sandeep contributed to various aspects of BDA-II: integration of BDA-II systems, design, debugging, development and testing of the correlator system based on FPGA, software needed to test the correlations of 26 antennas (325 baselines) of the array and solar observations with 12 elements of the array and obtain the "first light" of the correlator. However, to complete the Phase II of BDA there is the need of the coming of Dr. Sandeep for a further period of 150 days from May 2014. The main activities planned for this period are: (a) systems integration of the BDA phase II, (b) conclusion and implementation the correlator system, (c) implementation of the control software for the BDA, (d) training of BDA team members, and (e) carrying out initial observations with the BDA - II and obtaining initial 2-D maps. From these activities and results, Phase II of the BDA project will be completed with the implementation of solar and regular non-solar observations, including obtaining 2-D images. (AU)