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KAT Science Workshop at HartRAO 2006/05/06


The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is intended to be the next-generation radio telescope. It is being developed by a global consortium of radio astronomers.

The SKA requires new technologies to be developed, and South Africa is intending to build an SKA technology demonstrator called the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT). This is intended to be a multi-beam, multi-antenna synthesis telescope. The design operating frequency range will be determined by technological constraints, but the intention is to cover the HI 1420-MHz line and OH ground state lines at 1612 MHz to 1720 MHz.

However KAT will be more than just a technology demonstrator. It is intended to be able to do new science in the way that the SKA will, but on a (relatively!) small scale. Refining the design for KAT means that the science case must be developed in order to see what the implications are for the design.

The first public meeting on the science case was held in 2005 in Johannesburg, with representatives from Europe and Australia present. On Saturday May 6 the next meeting in the series was held, at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO).

HartRAO Science Director Roy Booth chaired the meeting.

The morning session comprised:

After lunch in the Visitors Centre the afternoon session comprised: Participants included: