SKA UpdateKristine Spekkens

Canadian SKAScience Director

www.skatelescope.cawww.skatelescope.org

Exploring the Universe with the world’s largest radio telescope

(Join the conversation! all+subscribe@skacanada.groups.io)

May 12 2021

Exploring the Universe with the world’s largest radio telescope

Budget 2021 did not provide a decision on Canada's participation in

the construction and operation phases of the SKA Phase 1 (=SKA1).

SKA1 construction will likely start on 1 July 2021. A failure by Canada to make a commitment by that time risks a significant loss of return on investment to Canadian industry.

Our Government understands the SKA project timeline and the

importance of Canada's contribution to its success. Consideration is still being given to the options available

for Canada to continue making contributions to the project.

SKA1

SKA1-Mid: 133x15m + 64x13.5m dishes,0.35–15+ GHz; 150 km baselines

SKA1-Low: 512 x 256 low-freq dipoles,50–350 MHz; 65 km baselines

3 sites (AUS, RSA, UK-HQ) 2 telescopes (LOW, MID) 1 Observatory (SKAO)Design Baseline: ~€1.7B construction + ops from 2021-2030

Design Phase: ~€250M; 600 scientists/engineers; now completeConstruction: 2021-2028

MeerKATBaseline Design:

SKAO SKAO Imag

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Sensitivity: 8x LOFARResolution: 1.25x LOFAR

Survey Speed: 135x LOFAR

Sensitivity: 5x JVLAResolution: 4x JVLA

Survey Speed: 60x JVLA

Canadian SKA1 Science

Canada is a world leader in pulsars, cosmic magnetism, transients, and low-frequency cosmology, and has multi-wavelength expertise in galaxy

evolution, multimessenger astronomy and planetary system formation.

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SKA1 Timeline

KS+

2019

Construction and observatory establishment (“operations”) proposals approved and publicly released. The pre-construction phase has ended.

The start of construction (=“T0”) is scheduled for 1 July 2021.

https://www.skatelescope.org/news/skao-publishes-construction-proposal/

SKA Observatory Vision

Broad ImpactsThe broad impacts expected from SKA1 are structured around

the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

https://www.skatelescope.org/news/skao-publishes-construction-proposal/http://skatelescope.ca/broader-impacts/

Broad Impacts

https://www.skatelescope.org/news/skao-publishes-construction-proposal/http://skatelescope.ca/broader-impacts/

San leadership blessing of the future SKA site in South Africa.

Cred

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ARAO

Cred

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SIRO

Heritage Walkover Team for the future SKA site in Australia.

From construction proposal:

The broad impacts expected from SKA1 are structured around the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SKA Governance

• The IGO came into force on 15 Jan 2021, and as of 1 May 2021 manages all personnel, assets and liabilities. The transition from the design-phase company to the construction+operations -phase IGO is complete.

• Canada is one of 10 Observer Countries of the IGO. Observers may attend IGO Council meetings, but they are not permitted to provide input.

• The start of construction (=“T0”) is scheduled for 1 July 2021, pending approval by the IGO Council at its 24-25 June 2021 meeting (= “Council 3”).

• Commitments to the Construction Funding Schedule by Member and Observer countries are expected at Council 3.

The project is governed by the SKA Observatory (SKAO), an intergovernmental organisation (IGO) governed by treaty.

Canadian SKA1 Science

Canada is a world leader in pulsars, cosmic magnetism, transients, and low-frequency cosmology, and has multi-wavelength expertise in galaxy

evolution, multimessenger astronomy and planetary system formation.

Imag

e cr

edits

(fro

m to

p): N

ASA;

NAS

A/St

Sci/A

URA

/MPI

FR/G

. Has

lam

; LM

SAL/

NAS

A; S

prin

gel+

05;

SKA

O; N

ASA/

ESA/

StSc

i; M

PIFR

/M. K

ram

er.

SKA Regional (Data) Centres

710 PB/yr

22 PFlop/s

100 GB/s

• Partnership between SKA and participating countries to provide user access to SKA data, host the Science Archive, provide computing support, create/maintain analysis tools.

• The SRC network development is ongoing via international working groups.

Canada will need SRC access. Hosting a Canadian SRC would leverage our scientific computing platform and archive development

strengths, and would be a hub of Canadian SKA activity.

Calibrated data

Scientific analysis

http://skatelescope.ca/news-events-and-documents/documents/http://skatelescope.ca/canada-and-the-ska/cirada/zzp-survey_instrument-gaensler ; zzp-edi-spekkens

Canadian SKA1 Technology

Talon-DX processing board and LRU for SKA1-Mid

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• Canada has been conditionally allocated leadership of the Mid-Central Signal Processor SKA1 construction package (~ “the correlator”) by the IGO.

• This package and other technologies would provide a suite of in-kind construction contributions.

• Conditional allocations become actual allocations once a funding commitment is made.

Canada led the CSP consortium with industrial partner MDA (CDR in 2018). NRC is now testing the interfaces between CSP and the rest of the SKA system.

http://skatelescope.ca/canada-and-the-ska/technology/http://skatelescope.ca/canada-and-the-ska/industry/

LRP2020 and SKA (#17)

• Cost of 2021-2030 participation: ~$290M.• ~$150M of those funds would stay in Canada.• Significant engagement by the Coalition for

Canadian Astronomy to raise awareness of importance, costs, benefits, timelines for a decision.

http://skatelescope.ca/news-events-and-documents/documents/

4-page non-technical summaries: see skatelescope.ca

(inflation-adjusted2021 CAD)

Leadership• IGO Council Observers:

– Luc Simard, Michael Rupen (NRC)• SRC Steering Committee:

– Séverin Gaudet (NRC)

• SRC Working Groups:– Jeff Albert (WestGrid), Mike Cave (WestGrid), Ryan Enge (WestGrid), Sébastien

Fabbro (NRC), Séverin Gaudet (NRC), Sharon Goliath (NRC), Leslie Groer (SciNet), JJ Kavelaars (NRC), Richard Klinger (CANARIE), Lixin Liu (WestGrid), Chris Loken(Compute Ontario), Florent Parent (Calcul Québec), Jennifer West (Dunlap)

• Science Director + Sci/Eng Adv. Ctee (SEAC):– Kristine Spekkens (RMC)

• Ground-Based Astronomy Committee (GAC):– Greg Sivakoff (Alberta)

• ACURA Advisory Council (AACS; voting):– Gilles Joncas (Laval, Chair), Yashar Hezaveh (Montréal),

Doug Johnstone (NRC/Victoria), Erik Rosolowsky (Alberta), Greg Sivakoff (Alberta), Kristine Spekkens (RMC), Ingrid Stairs (UBC), Dave Stevens (MDA)

• Coalition for Canadian Astronomy: – Sara Ellison (CASCA rep), Don Brooks (ACURA rep), Guy Nelson (Industry rep),

Dave Stevens (MDA), Kristine Spekkens (RMC)

Get involved!• Join the SKA Canda mailing list or a Science Working Group:

– Mail all+subscribe@skacanada.groups.io ; contact@skatelescope.ca• Discuss the SKA with your university admin

www.skatelescope.cawww.skatelescope.org

Exploring the Universe with the world’s largest radio telescope

Budget 2021 did not provide a decision on Canada's participation in

the construction and operation phases of the SKA Phase 1 (=SKA1).

SKA1 construction will likely start on 1 July 2021. A failure by Canada to make a commitment by that time risks a significant loss of return on investment to Canadian industry.

Our Government understands the SKA project timeline and the

importance of Canada's contribution to its success. Consideration is still being given to the options available

for Canada to continue making contributions to the project.