MeerKAT Update
51
MeerKAT Update Manchester WP2 meeting, 20 October 2011 Anita Loots (Associate Director: SKA SA) Willem Esterhuyse (Project Manager, MeerKAT) Tracy Cheetham (Project Manager, MeerKAT Infrastructure) in the audience: Thomas Kusel LJ du Toit Izak Theron T.L. Venkatasubramani Bruce Wallace
Transcript of MeerKAT Update
PowerPoint PresentationWillem Esterhuyse (Project Manager, MeerKAT)
Tracy Cheetham (Project Manager, MeerKAT Infrastructure)
in the audience:
Izak Theron T.L. Venkatasubramani
Phased Experimental Demonstrator (PED)
Build and test 4x3x2 focal plane array technology to decide on
technical feasibility and technology maturity for possible
MeerKAT deployment. Completed 2006, considered to
be too high risk – technology not selected for further development.
2006. 15m diameter single dish (composite materials) prototype
system completed, tested, lessons learnt. Is now a
HartRAO instrument modified for pulsar observations.
2005. Simple interferometer built to develop software skills & pilot remote control software for XDM. Completed – at SAAO Cape Town
On the proposed SKA site in Karoo – 2009 to 2011. KAT-7 antennas all completed, fitting out and commissioning under way
Advanced development & pre-production phases
MeerKAT CoDR & URS Freeze
panel for final selection of MeerKAT technologies and scope
sign-off
MeerKAT PDR & Spec Freeze
July 2011 Engineering specification freeze and detail engineering design and risk mitigation
SKA Pre-construction Phase
Since 2005, careful planning of prototyping phases to drive down risk
Prototyping phases were agreed upon in 2005 and have not been changed since then.
2004
..excluded • Systems engineering, risk, project management, configuration and logistics management
– All of which are healthy and going strong..
• PAPER & C-BASS – All of which are healthy and going strong..
• The African VLBI network (AVN) – New, very exciting, going strong..
• Human Capital Development – Healthy and going strong..
Karoo site
KAT-7
KAT-7 is an engineering prototype, an invaluable system for learning, especially in the following areas: • On-site composite dish manufacture (1st array of its kind in the world) • Selection of cryogenic cooling systems • Rolling out a system on a remote location with significant time pressures • Establishing a sensible, but thorough system engineering process • Verifying analyses with actual measurements, which will be invaluable in
specifying MeerKAT • Control and science processing software/algorithm development • Build industry competence in the area of radio astronomy instrumentation • Building experience on managing and policing man-made and self-inflicted RFI
“The successful installation of the 7 cold receivers was a significant milestone that marks the last
major hardware installation effort of the engineering team. It coincides with the formal acceptance of the KAT-7 correlator, which means that KAT-7 is ready for more in-depth
interferometric commissioning. The science processing team wasted no time to start forming images with the new receivers.” (Willem Esterhuyse, August 2011)
KAT-7 learning
An image was produced in September with 7 cold receivers is shown below and compared to a publication of 1977 in order to verify the
results.
KAT-7 Image – Sept ‘11
• Good physical understanding of current flow • Agreement between (scale) modeling and measurements • KAT-7 learning will transfer to MeerKAT
11
12
• Structural tests almost completed o Strength, stiffness, shear properties o Fatigue o Creep
• Test program scheduled for completion Dec 2011
13
14
Manufacturing void (microscopic) – no evidence of deterioration in thermal fatigue run-out test
15
16
Reflecting Surface: Mesh
• MeerKAT mesh to be similar to KAT-7 (Al, Φ250μm, 30/”, 100mm overlap)
• Excellent predicted & measured reflection from UHF to X-band
17
Radio Quality Tests on panels after having been submitted to various environmental conditions in order to verify radio performance
MeerKAT telescope and infrastructure
20 Start of 2004 05 06 07 08 10 14 11 13 15 16 22 17 18 19 21 09 12
{ Additional funding allocated, engineering team recruited, XDM
built, MeerKAT conceptualized,
FringeFinder, KAT-7 infrastructure,
MeerKAT infrastructure roll-out
SKA Pre-construction Phase
PrepSKA
Timelines Still on track for completion at the end of
2016
• Critical design review passed in September 2011 • Infrastructure roll-out during 2011-2012 includes:
– Road network – Electrical and fibre reticulation (including webcams and weather stations) – Extensions to Dish Assembly Shed – New Pedestal Integration building – Karoo Array Processor building – Power Facility – Klerefontein workshops – Landing strip – Construction camps – MeerKAT antenna foundations
• Provision of Grid power for MeerKAT – 33kV power line construction nearing completion (snag listing phase) – Tender for civil works for upgrade to Karoo substation approved - Civil works expected to take 11
months because of long-lead items – Tender for procurement of 2 x 5MVA transformers approved in February 2011 - 12 month lead items – Once Karoo substation has been upgraded, power line will be switched over from 22kV to 33kV
MeerKAT infrastructure
• Provision of data connectivity for MeerKAT Construction of 10Gbps long-haul fibre link for MeerKAT completed, telescope team
already utilizing new 10Gbps link 10Mbps interim link operational since February 2011 from the site to Cape Town (To
decide whether to retain Telkom 10Mbps link as back-up for CAM) • The fibre network will interface to the WACS (West African Cable System)
submarine cable from Cape Town to Europe with a capacity of 5.12 Tbit/s (10/100 Gbit/s reserved for MeerKAT/SKA)
• Redundancy will be provided through the East Coast cable system such as SEACOM, EASY/SAFE cables
Data link - to site & the world
• On-site facility that houses the centralized telescope equipment • From the Array Processor, data is sent via the long haul optic fibre to the
Control Centre in Cape Town • Karoo Array Processor Building includes:
The Building RFI Screening which includes full RFI-shielding of the telescope equipment, long-haul fibre
equipment and Maser room, workshop/lab and control room Telescope Equipment Long-haul Fibre Equipment Cooling and Ventilation System Power System Fire Detection and Fire Fighting System Access Control and Security System
Karoo Array Processor Building
Karoo Array Processor Building
KAPB and Power facility
• Power Facility will be the central power hub: Existing overhead line to site re-routed to incomer switch panel
(allowance made for 33kV & 22kV) • Uninterrupted power via Diesel Rotary UPS to: MeerKAT Antenna system @ 22kV Site Complex, incl. KAPB @ 400V Existing KAT7 antenna system @ 22kV Existing PAPER antenna system (via KAT7)
• Modular design - Diesel Rotary UPS units added as demand increases 2.5 MVA available for MeerKAT, KAT-7, PAPER 5 MVA final capacity (SKA Phase 1?)
• Each rotary UPS unit provided with own day tank (1,000 liters) – fills up from external tank, pumps controlled by UPS
Power facility
MeerKAT telescope
34
• International RFP in 2009 (21 major proposals received) • All proposals closely related to SKA science, all use unique MeerKAT features • Adjudication September 2010 (international panel)
– 2 Priority 1 surveys: • Study of the origin and evolution of galaxies. • Study of Einstein’s theory of gravity and fundamental physics. • Same as the two SKA Phase-1 science drivers.
• 8 Priority 2 surveys and other “unsuccessful” proposals – Excellent science that uses unique features of MeerKAT – Aspects of other surveys considered for smaller time allocations
• Work session of PIs in Cape Town in April 2011
Phase 1 (current planning)
Frequency bands (GHz) 1-1.75 0.58 – 1.015
8-14.5
MeerKAT Frequency, Ae/Tsys
35
“Sensitivity is king, but Dynamic Range or its proxies are the dominant queens”
• Progress on all aspects of the telescope good PDR completed in July, detailed design now under way
• Antennas: Request for Information (RFI) for the antenna structures has been issued and responses received
• Will be followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) planned for 31 October 2011
• Major milestones: MeerKAT Antenna Contract awarded: March 2012 1st MeerKAT Antenna installed: Oct 2013 1st MeerKAT Antenna qualification completed: June 2014 Array Release 1 (5 antennas): Dec 2014 Array Release 2 (approx 32 antennas): Dec 2015 MeerKAT Antenna Construction completed: Dec 2016
Overall progress, antenna structures
Optics – evolution towards MeerKAT Optics Dprojected Fmain refl. F/D RMS
1 XDM Prime-focus 15 7.5 m 0.50 2 mm 2 KAT-7 Prime-focus 12 4.56 m 0.38 1 mm 3 MeerKAT Offset-Gregorian 13.5 TBD TBD ≤ 1 mm
38
Offset Gregorian Optics • Thinking documented [ EA-MK-WP-0008 ] • Draft A released in time for MeerKAT PDR July 2011, more work
under way • Next step: Careful review, taking into account future-proofing
Multiple Receivers
• MeerKAT will have positions for 4 receivers
• All operational, all the time • Future FPA possible
• GM • Single He-compressor (air-cooled), above azimuth rotator • Single vacuum pump, on sub-reflector boom • Compressor & vacuum pump shared amongst three receivers Maximum sensitivity
MeerKAT Cooling Decision
Specification started Definition of expected volumes and masses for all receivers
• Cryostat Detail design of 1st cryostat prototype complete Manufacturing of almost all of the cryostat prototype is
complete, integration started
44
LNA test setup • Integration of hermetic coax feed-throughs • Test setup is in final integration and test phase • Busy characterising and calibrating the RF losses • Busy integrating and testing the control software • Should be possible to do automatic and repeatable
LNA measurements in the October 2011.
LNA test setup, receiver C&M unit
Receiver Control and Monitoring Unit (RCMU) • Software Requirement Specification V1 released • Design and layout of 1st prototype electronics completed, ready for
manufacturing. Includes prototype circuits for driving the GM stepper motor as well as additional PID control circuits for experimentation.
RCMU ARM Module
45
• Parts have been procured and received • Software development for RCMU:
Software development platform completed, can build custom U-Boot and linux images
Demonstrated complete path where sensor values are requested via KATCP on development boards.
Busy implementing rest of the functionality as specified in the SRS • 2nd Stage RF amplification
Prototype design completed, ready for manufacturing. Test circuits designed for testing and characterising specific RF components.
Will be used to build accurate models and for selecting the best components from the available selection.
RCMU FPGA Module
Top Bottom
Top Bottom
• Progress in a nutshell: Digitiser – advanced Correlator – early stages TFR – TBD
• Installed a 16-element correlator with added functionality in the Karoo and duplicated the system in the lab (Cape Town) for testing –final correlator modes (spectral line mode and tied array beam forming) will be implemented by year-end in line with the vision of achieving KAT-7 engineering completion and establishment of an operational baseline by end of 2011. • First ROACH2 board delivered to CT
Testing progressing well
Digital backend
• Remote operations functionality successfully implemented • Integrated the KAT-7 correlator with the CAM system • The C&M room in CT (remote) has been set up and is now fully functional • A lab test to simulate C&M for 64 antennas completed
• Successfully ran the system with 64 simulated dishes across 4 servers (2 proxies, 1 headnode and 1 simulators)
• No major bottlenecks identified (other than expected e.g. KatGUI real estate) • While there remains a lot of work to get to a final system for MeerKAT the test proved that the
current concept will scale to 64 antennas and that the team is on the right track and making the right key decisions as far as the control system is concerned.
Computing
• collaborative work with several institutions • working with NRAO on the development of the CASA processing package,
with particular emphasis on high-performance computing systems to deal with the vast datasets produced by the EVLA and MeerKAT.
• Collaborative work underway with ASTRON (Netherlands) in order to accurately model and understand the effect of beam shapes in high dynamic-range imaging.
• Work focused on MeerKAT beams, but also has wider applicability, particularly for the SKA.
• Partnership with Intel South Africa Corporation to evaluate the highest Intel technologies for processing the enormous data rates produced by radio telescopes.
• Quarterly meetings are held with IBM South Africa and the IBM Watson Research Centre to track the latest applicable computing technologies.
In conclusion..
Thank you!
51 www.ska
aloots@ska
MeerKAT UpdateManchester WP2 meeting, 20 October 2011Anita Loots (Associate Director: SKA SA)Willem Esterhuyse (Project Manager, MeerKAT)Tracy Cheetham (Project Manager, MeerKAT Infrastructure)in the audience:Thomas KuselLJ du ToitIzak Theron T.L. VenkatasubramaniBruce Wallace
Slide Number 2
Slide Number 3
in the audience:
Izak Theron T.L. Venkatasubramani
Phased Experimental Demonstrator (PED)
Build and test 4x3x2 focal plane array technology to decide on
technical feasibility and technology maturity for possible
MeerKAT deployment. Completed 2006, considered to
be too high risk – technology not selected for further development.
2006. 15m diameter single dish (composite materials) prototype
system completed, tested, lessons learnt. Is now a
HartRAO instrument modified for pulsar observations.
2005. Simple interferometer built to develop software skills & pilot remote control software for XDM. Completed – at SAAO Cape Town
On the proposed SKA site in Karoo – 2009 to 2011. KAT-7 antennas all completed, fitting out and commissioning under way
Advanced development & pre-production phases
MeerKAT CoDR & URS Freeze
panel for final selection of MeerKAT technologies and scope
sign-off
MeerKAT PDR & Spec Freeze
July 2011 Engineering specification freeze and detail engineering design and risk mitigation
SKA Pre-construction Phase
Since 2005, careful planning of prototyping phases to drive down risk
Prototyping phases were agreed upon in 2005 and have not been changed since then.
2004
..excluded • Systems engineering, risk, project management, configuration and logistics management
– All of which are healthy and going strong..
• PAPER & C-BASS – All of which are healthy and going strong..
• The African VLBI network (AVN) – New, very exciting, going strong..
• Human Capital Development – Healthy and going strong..
Karoo site
KAT-7
KAT-7 is an engineering prototype, an invaluable system for learning, especially in the following areas: • On-site composite dish manufacture (1st array of its kind in the world) • Selection of cryogenic cooling systems • Rolling out a system on a remote location with significant time pressures • Establishing a sensible, but thorough system engineering process • Verifying analyses with actual measurements, which will be invaluable in
specifying MeerKAT • Control and science processing software/algorithm development • Build industry competence in the area of radio astronomy instrumentation • Building experience on managing and policing man-made and self-inflicted RFI
“The successful installation of the 7 cold receivers was a significant milestone that marks the last
major hardware installation effort of the engineering team. It coincides with the formal acceptance of the KAT-7 correlator, which means that KAT-7 is ready for more in-depth
interferometric commissioning. The science processing team wasted no time to start forming images with the new receivers.” (Willem Esterhuyse, August 2011)
KAT-7 learning
An image was produced in September with 7 cold receivers is shown below and compared to a publication of 1977 in order to verify the
results.
KAT-7 Image – Sept ‘11
• Good physical understanding of current flow • Agreement between (scale) modeling and measurements • KAT-7 learning will transfer to MeerKAT
11
12
• Structural tests almost completed o Strength, stiffness, shear properties o Fatigue o Creep
• Test program scheduled for completion Dec 2011
13
14
Manufacturing void (microscopic) – no evidence of deterioration in thermal fatigue run-out test
15
16
Reflecting Surface: Mesh
• MeerKAT mesh to be similar to KAT-7 (Al, Φ250μm, 30/”, 100mm overlap)
• Excellent predicted & measured reflection from UHF to X-band
17
Radio Quality Tests on panels after having been submitted to various environmental conditions in order to verify radio performance
MeerKAT telescope and infrastructure
20 Start of 2004 05 06 07 08 10 14 11 13 15 16 22 17 18 19 21 09 12
{ Additional funding allocated, engineering team recruited, XDM
built, MeerKAT conceptualized,
FringeFinder, KAT-7 infrastructure,
MeerKAT infrastructure roll-out
SKA Pre-construction Phase
PrepSKA
Timelines Still on track for completion at the end of
2016
• Critical design review passed in September 2011 • Infrastructure roll-out during 2011-2012 includes:
– Road network – Electrical and fibre reticulation (including webcams and weather stations) – Extensions to Dish Assembly Shed – New Pedestal Integration building – Karoo Array Processor building – Power Facility – Klerefontein workshops – Landing strip – Construction camps – MeerKAT antenna foundations
• Provision of Grid power for MeerKAT – 33kV power line construction nearing completion (snag listing phase) – Tender for civil works for upgrade to Karoo substation approved - Civil works expected to take 11
months because of long-lead items – Tender for procurement of 2 x 5MVA transformers approved in February 2011 - 12 month lead items – Once Karoo substation has been upgraded, power line will be switched over from 22kV to 33kV
MeerKAT infrastructure
• Provision of data connectivity for MeerKAT Construction of 10Gbps long-haul fibre link for MeerKAT completed, telescope team
already utilizing new 10Gbps link 10Mbps interim link operational since February 2011 from the site to Cape Town (To
decide whether to retain Telkom 10Mbps link as back-up for CAM) • The fibre network will interface to the WACS (West African Cable System)
submarine cable from Cape Town to Europe with a capacity of 5.12 Tbit/s (10/100 Gbit/s reserved for MeerKAT/SKA)
• Redundancy will be provided through the East Coast cable system such as SEACOM, EASY/SAFE cables
Data link - to site & the world
• On-site facility that houses the centralized telescope equipment • From the Array Processor, data is sent via the long haul optic fibre to the
Control Centre in Cape Town • Karoo Array Processor Building includes:
The Building RFI Screening which includes full RFI-shielding of the telescope equipment, long-haul fibre
equipment and Maser room, workshop/lab and control room Telescope Equipment Long-haul Fibre Equipment Cooling and Ventilation System Power System Fire Detection and Fire Fighting System Access Control and Security System
Karoo Array Processor Building
Karoo Array Processor Building
KAPB and Power facility
• Power Facility will be the central power hub: Existing overhead line to site re-routed to incomer switch panel
(allowance made for 33kV & 22kV) • Uninterrupted power via Diesel Rotary UPS to: MeerKAT Antenna system @ 22kV Site Complex, incl. KAPB @ 400V Existing KAT7 antenna system @ 22kV Existing PAPER antenna system (via KAT7)
• Modular design - Diesel Rotary UPS units added as demand increases 2.5 MVA available for MeerKAT, KAT-7, PAPER 5 MVA final capacity (SKA Phase 1?)
• Each rotary UPS unit provided with own day tank (1,000 liters) – fills up from external tank, pumps controlled by UPS
Power facility
MeerKAT telescope
34
• International RFP in 2009 (21 major proposals received) • All proposals closely related to SKA science, all use unique MeerKAT features • Adjudication September 2010 (international panel)
– 2 Priority 1 surveys: • Study of the origin and evolution of galaxies. • Study of Einstein’s theory of gravity and fundamental physics. • Same as the two SKA Phase-1 science drivers.
• 8 Priority 2 surveys and other “unsuccessful” proposals – Excellent science that uses unique features of MeerKAT – Aspects of other surveys considered for smaller time allocations
• Work session of PIs in Cape Town in April 2011
Phase 1 (current planning)
Frequency bands (GHz) 1-1.75 0.58 – 1.015
8-14.5
MeerKAT Frequency, Ae/Tsys
35
“Sensitivity is king, but Dynamic Range or its proxies are the dominant queens”
• Progress on all aspects of the telescope good PDR completed in July, detailed design now under way
• Antennas: Request for Information (RFI) for the antenna structures has been issued and responses received
• Will be followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) planned for 31 October 2011
• Major milestones: MeerKAT Antenna Contract awarded: March 2012 1st MeerKAT Antenna installed: Oct 2013 1st MeerKAT Antenna qualification completed: June 2014 Array Release 1 (5 antennas): Dec 2014 Array Release 2 (approx 32 antennas): Dec 2015 MeerKAT Antenna Construction completed: Dec 2016
Overall progress, antenna structures
Optics – evolution towards MeerKAT Optics Dprojected Fmain refl. F/D RMS
1 XDM Prime-focus 15 7.5 m 0.50 2 mm 2 KAT-7 Prime-focus 12 4.56 m 0.38 1 mm 3 MeerKAT Offset-Gregorian 13.5 TBD TBD ≤ 1 mm
38
Offset Gregorian Optics • Thinking documented [ EA-MK-WP-0008 ] • Draft A released in time for MeerKAT PDR July 2011, more work
under way • Next step: Careful review, taking into account future-proofing
Multiple Receivers
• MeerKAT will have positions for 4 receivers
• All operational, all the time • Future FPA possible
• GM • Single He-compressor (air-cooled), above azimuth rotator • Single vacuum pump, on sub-reflector boom • Compressor & vacuum pump shared amongst three receivers Maximum sensitivity
MeerKAT Cooling Decision
Specification started Definition of expected volumes and masses for all receivers
• Cryostat Detail design of 1st cryostat prototype complete Manufacturing of almost all of the cryostat prototype is
complete, integration started
44
LNA test setup • Integration of hermetic coax feed-throughs • Test setup is in final integration and test phase • Busy characterising and calibrating the RF losses • Busy integrating and testing the control software • Should be possible to do automatic and repeatable
LNA measurements in the October 2011.
LNA test setup, receiver C&M unit
Receiver Control and Monitoring Unit (RCMU) • Software Requirement Specification V1 released • Design and layout of 1st prototype electronics completed, ready for
manufacturing. Includes prototype circuits for driving the GM stepper motor as well as additional PID control circuits for experimentation.
RCMU ARM Module
45
• Parts have been procured and received • Software development for RCMU:
Software development platform completed, can build custom U-Boot and linux images
Demonstrated complete path where sensor values are requested via KATCP on development boards.
Busy implementing rest of the functionality as specified in the SRS • 2nd Stage RF amplification
Prototype design completed, ready for manufacturing. Test circuits designed for testing and characterising specific RF components.
Will be used to build accurate models and for selecting the best components from the available selection.
RCMU FPGA Module
Top Bottom
Top Bottom
• Progress in a nutshell: Digitiser – advanced Correlator – early stages TFR – TBD
• Installed a 16-element correlator with added functionality in the Karoo and duplicated the system in the lab (Cape Town) for testing –final correlator modes (spectral line mode and tied array beam forming) will be implemented by year-end in line with the vision of achieving KAT-7 engineering completion and establishment of an operational baseline by end of 2011. • First ROACH2 board delivered to CT
Testing progressing well
Digital backend
• Remote operations functionality successfully implemented • Integrated the KAT-7 correlator with the CAM system • The C&M room in CT (remote) has been set up and is now fully functional • A lab test to simulate C&M for 64 antennas completed
• Successfully ran the system with 64 simulated dishes across 4 servers (2 proxies, 1 headnode and 1 simulators)
• No major bottlenecks identified (other than expected e.g. KatGUI real estate) • While there remains a lot of work to get to a final system for MeerKAT the test proved that the
current concept will scale to 64 antennas and that the team is on the right track and making the right key decisions as far as the control system is concerned.
Computing
• collaborative work with several institutions • working with NRAO on the development of the CASA processing package,
with particular emphasis on high-performance computing systems to deal with the vast datasets produced by the EVLA and MeerKAT.
• Collaborative work underway with ASTRON (Netherlands) in order to accurately model and understand the effect of beam shapes in high dynamic-range imaging.
• Work focused on MeerKAT beams, but also has wider applicability, particularly for the SKA.
• Partnership with Intel South Africa Corporation to evaluate the highest Intel technologies for processing the enormous data rates produced by radio telescopes.
• Quarterly meetings are held with IBM South Africa and the IBM Watson Research Centre to track the latest applicable computing technologies.
In conclusion..
Thank you!
51 www.ska
aloots@ska
MeerKAT UpdateManchester WP2 meeting, 20 October 2011Anita Loots (Associate Director: SKA SA)Willem Esterhuyse (Project Manager, MeerKAT)Tracy Cheetham (Project Manager, MeerKAT Infrastructure)in the audience:Thomas KuselLJ du ToitIzak Theron T.L. VenkatasubramaniBruce Wallace
Slide Number 2
Slide Number 3
