LOFAR: The low-frequency array

M. P. Van Haarlem; M. W. Wise; A. W. Gunst; G. Heald; J. P. McKean; J. W.T. Hessels; A. G. De Bruyn; R. Nijboer; J. Swinbank; R. Fallows; M. Brentjens; A. Nelles; R. Beck; H. Falcke; R. Fender; J. Hörandel; L. V.E. Koopmans; G. Mann; G. Miley; H. Röttgering; B. W. Stappers; R. A.M.J. Wijers; S. Zaroubi; M. Van Den Akker; A. Alexov; J. Anderson; K. Anderson; A. Van Ardenne; M. Arts; A. Asgekar; I. M. Avruch; F. Batejat; L. Bähren; M. E. Bell; M. R. Bell; I. Van Bemmel; P. Bennema; M. J. Bentum; G. Bernardi; P. Best; L. Bîrzan; A. Bonafede; A. J. Boonstra; R. Braun; J. Bregman; F. Breitling; R. H. Van De Brink; J. Broderick; P. C. Broekema; W. N. Brouw; M. Brüggen; H. R. Butcher; W. Van Cappellen; B. Ciardi; T. Coenen; J. Conway; A. Coolen; A. Corstanje; S. Damstra; O. Davies; A. T. Deller; R. J. Dettmar; G. Van Diepen; K. Dijkstra; P. Donker; A. Doorduin; J. Dromer; M. Drost; A. Van Duin; J. Eislöffel; J. Van Enst; C. Ferrari; W. Frieswijk; H. Gankema; M. A. Garrett; F. De Gasperin; M. Gerbers; E. De Geus; J. M. Grießmeier; T. Grit; P. Gruppen; J. P. Hamaker; T. Hassall; M. Hoeft; H. A. Holties; A. Horneffer; A. Van Der Horst; A. Van Houwelingen; A. Huijgen; M. Iacobelli; H. Intema; N. Jackson; V. Jelic; A. De Jong; E. Juette; D. Kant; A. Karastergiou; A. Koers; H. Kollen; V. I. Kondratiev; E. Kooistra; Y. Koopman; A. Koster; M. Kuniyoshi; M. Kramer; G. Kuper; P. Lambropoulos; C. Law; J. Van Leeuwen; J. Lemaitre; M. Loose; P. Maat; G. Macario; S. Markoff; J. Masters; R. A. McFadden; D. McKay-Bukowski; H. Meijering; H. Meulman; M. Mevius; E. Middelberg; R. Millenaar; J. C.A. Miller-Jones; R. N. Mohan; J. D. Mol; J. Morawietz; R. Morganti; D. D. Mulcahy; E. Mulder; H. Munk; L. Nieuwenhuis; R. Van Nieuwpoort; J. E. Noordam; M. Norden; A. Noutsos; A. R. Offringa; H. Olofsson; A. Omar; E. Orrú; R. Overeem; H. Paas; M. Pandey-Pommier; V. N. Pandey; R. Pizzo; A. Polatidis; D. Rafferty; S. Rawlings; W. Reich; J. P. De Reijer; J. Reitsma; G. A. Renting; P. Riemers; E. Rol; J. W. Romein; J. Roosjen; M. Ruiter; A. Scaife; K. Van Der Schaaf; B. Scheers; P. Schellart; A. Schoenmakers; G. Schoonderbeek; M. Serylak; A. Shulevski; J. Sluman; O. Smirnov; C. Sobey; H. Spreeuw; M. Steinmetz; C. G.M. Sterks; H. J. Stiepel; K. Stuurwold; M. Tagger; Y. Tang; C. Tasse; I. Thomas; S. Thoudam; M. C. Toribio; B. Van Der Tol; O. Usov; M. Van Veelen; A. J. Van Der Veen; S. Ter Veen; J. P.W. Verbiest; R. Vermeulen; N. Vermaas; C. Vocks; C. Vogt; M. De Vos; E. Van Der Wal; R. Van Weeren; H. Weggemans; P. Weltevrede; S. White; S. J. Wijnholds; T. Wilhelmsson; O. Wucknitz; S. Yatawatta; P. Zarka; A. Zensus; J. Van Zwieten

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

LOFAR: The low-frequency array

M. P. Van Haarlem, M. W. Wise, A. W. Gunst, G. Heald, J. P. McKean, J. W.T. Hessels, A. G. De Bruyn, R. Nijboer, J. Swinbank, R. Fallows, M. Brentjens, A. Nelles, R. Beck, H. Falcke, R. Fender, J. Hörandel, L. V.E. Koopmans, G. Mann, G. Miley, H. RöttgeringB. W. Stappers, R. A.M.J. Wijers, S. Zaroubi, M. Van Den Akker, A. Alexov, J. Anderson, K. Anderson, A. Van Ardenne, M. Arts, A. Asgekar, I. M. Avruch, F. Batejat, L. Bähren, M. E. Bell, M. R. Bell, I. Van Bemmel, P. Bennema, M. J. Bentum, G. Bernardi, P. Best, L. Bîrzan, A. Bonafede, A. J. Boonstra, R. Braun, J. Bregman, F. Breitling, R. H. Van De Brink, J. Broderick, P. C. Broekema, W. N. Brouw, M. Brüggen, H. R. Butcher, W. Van Cappellen, B. Ciardi, T. Coenen, J. Conway, A. Coolen, A. Corstanje, S. Damstra, O. Davies, A. T. Deller, R. J. Dettmar, G. Van Diepen, K. Dijkstra, P. Donker, A. Doorduin, J. Dromer, M. Drost, A. Van Duin, J. Eislöffel, J. Van Enst, C. Ferrari, W. Frieswijk, H. Gankema, M. A. Garrett, F. De Gasperin, M. Gerbers, E. De Geus, J. M. Grießmeier, T. Grit, P. Gruppen, J. P. Hamaker, T. Hassall, M. Hoeft, H. A. Holties, A. Horneffer, A. Van Der Horst, A. Van Houwelingen, A. Huijgen, M. Iacobelli, H. Intema, N. Jackson, V. Jelic, A. De Jong, E. Juette, D. Kant, A. Karastergiou, A. Koers, H. Kollen, V. I. Kondratiev, E. Kooistra, Y. Koopman, A. Koster, M. Kuniyoshi, M. Kramer, G. Kuper, P. Lambropoulos, C. Law, J. Van Leeuwen, J. Lemaitre, M. Loose, P. Maat, G. Macario, S. Markoff, J. Masters, R. A. McFadden, D. McKay-Bukowski, H. Meijering, H. Meulman, M. Mevius, E. Middelberg, R. Millenaar, J. C.A. Miller-Jones, R. N. Mohan, J. D. Mol, J. Morawietz, R. Morganti, D. D. Mulcahy, E. Mulder, H. Munk, L. Nieuwenhuis, R. Van Nieuwpoort, J. E. Noordam, M. Norden, A. Noutsos, A. R. Offringa, H. Olofsson, A. Omar, E. Orrú, R. Overeem, H. Paas, M. Pandey-Pommier, V. N. Pandey, R. Pizzo, A. Polatidis, D. Rafferty, S. Rawlings, W. Reich, J. P. De Reijer, J. Reitsma, G. A. Renting, P. Riemers, E. Rol, J. W. Romein, J. Roosjen, M. Ruiter, A. Scaife, K. Van Der Schaaf, B. Scheers, P. Schellart, A. Schoenmakers, G. Schoonderbeek, M. Serylak, A. Shulevski, J. Sluman, O. Smirnov, C. Sobey, H. Spreeuw, M. Steinmetz, C. G.M. Sterks, H. J. Stiepel, K. Stuurwold, M. Tagger, Y. Tang, C. Tasse, I. Thomas, S. Thoudam, M. C. Toribio, B. Van Der Tol, O. Usov, M. Van Veelen, A. J. Van Der Veen, S. Ter Veen, J. P.W. Verbiest, R. Vermeulen, N. Vermaas, C. Vocks, C. Vogt, M. De Vos, E. Van Der Wal, R. Van Weeren, H. Weggemans, P. Weltevrede, S. White, S. J. Wijnholds, T. Wilhelmsson, O. Wucknitz, S. Yatawatta, P. Zarka, A. Zensus, J. Van Zwieten

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10-240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR's new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

Original language	English
Article number	A2
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	556
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220873
State	Published - 2013
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Dark ages, reionization, first stars
Instrumentation: Interferometers
Radio continuum: General
Radio lines: General
Telescopes

Access to Document

10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

Cite this

Van Haarlem, M. P., Wise, M. W., Gunst, A. W., Heald, G., McKean, J. P., Hessels, J. W. T., De Bruyn, A. G., Nijboer, R., Swinbank, J., Fallows, R., Brentjens, M., Nelles, A., Beck, R., Falcke, H., Fender, R., Hörandel, J., Koopmans, L. V. E., Mann, G., Miley, G., ... Van Zwieten, J. (2013). LOFAR: The low-frequency array. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 556, Article A2. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

@article{9d140fe10d9f4c44a47c4416f27b21b3,

title = "LOFAR: The low-frequency array",

abstract = "LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10-240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR's new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.",

keywords = "Dark ages, reionization, first stars, Instrumentation: Interferometers, Radio continuum: General, Radio lines: General, Telescopes",

author = "{Van Haarlem}, {M. P.} and Wise, {M. W.} and Gunst, {A. W.} and G. Heald and McKean, {J. P.} and Hessels, {J. W.T.} and {De Bruyn}, {A. G.} and R. Nijboer and J. Swinbank and R. Fallows and M. Brentjens and A. Nelles and R. Beck and H. Falcke and R. Fender and J. H{\"o}randel and Koopmans, {L. V.E.} and G. Mann and G. Miley and H. R{\"o}ttgering and Stappers, {B. W.} and Wijers, {R. A.M.J.} and S. Zaroubi and {Van Den Akker}, M. and A. Alexov and J. Anderson and K. Anderson and {Van Ardenne}, A. and M. Arts and A. Asgekar and Avruch, {I. M.} and F. Batejat and L. B{\"a}hren and Bell, {M. E.} and Bell, {M. R.} and {Van Bemmel}, I. and P. Bennema and Bentum, {M. J.} and G. Bernardi and P. Best and L. B{\^i}rzan and A. Bonafede and Boonstra, {A. J.} and R. Braun and J. Bregman and F. Breitling and {Van De Brink}, {R. H.} and J. Broderick and Broekema, {P. C.} and Brouw, {W. N.} and M. Br{\"u}ggen and Butcher, {H. R.} and {Van Cappellen}, W. and B. Ciardi and T. Coenen and J. Conway and A. Coolen and A. Corstanje and S. Damstra and O. Davies and Deller, {A. T.} and Dettmar, {R. J.} and {Van Diepen}, G. and K. Dijkstra and P. Donker and A. Doorduin and J. Dromer and M. Drost and {Van Duin}, A. and J. Eisl{\"o}ffel and {Van Enst}, J. and C. Ferrari and W. Frieswijk and H. Gankema and Garrett, {M. A.} and {De Gasperin}, F. and M. Gerbers and {De Geus}, E. and Grie{\ss}meier, {J. M.} and T. Grit and P. Gruppen and Hamaker, {J. P.} and T. Hassall and M. Hoeft and Holties, {H. A.} and A. Horneffer and {Van Der Horst}, A. and {Van Houwelingen}, A. and A. Huijgen and M. Iacobelli and H. Intema and N. Jackson and V. Jelic and {De Jong}, A. and E. Juette and D. Kant and A. Karastergiou and A. Koers and H. Kollen and Kondratiev, {V. I.} and E. Kooistra and Y. Koopman and A. Koster and M. Kuniyoshi and M. Kramer and G. Kuper and P. Lambropoulos and C. Law and {Van Leeuwen}, J. and J. Lemaitre and M. Loose and P. Maat and G. Macario and S. Markoff and J. Masters and McFadden, {R. A.} and D. McKay-Bukowski and H. Meijering and H. Meulman and M. Mevius and E. Middelberg and R. Millenaar and Miller-Jones, {J. C.A.} and Mohan, {R. N.} and Mol, {J. D.} and J. Morawietz and R. Morganti and Mulcahy, {D. D.} and E. Mulder and H. Munk and L. Nieuwenhuis and {Van Nieuwpoort}, R. and Noordam, {J. E.} and M. Norden and A. Noutsos and Offringa, {A. R.} and H. Olofsson and A. Omar and E. Orr{\'u} and R. Overeem and H. Paas and M. Pandey-Pommier and Pandey, {V. N.} and R. Pizzo and A. Polatidis and D. Rafferty and S. Rawlings and W. Reich and {De Reijer}, {J. P.} and J. Reitsma and Renting, {G. A.} and P. Riemers and E. Rol and Romein, {J. W.} and J. Roosjen and M. Ruiter and A. Scaife and {Van Der Schaaf}, K. and B. Scheers and P. Schellart and A. Schoenmakers and G. Schoonderbeek and M. Serylak and A. Shulevski and J. Sluman and O. Smirnov and C. Sobey and H. Spreeuw and M. Steinmetz and Sterks, {C. G.M.} and Stiepel, {H. J.} and K. Stuurwold and M. Tagger and Y. Tang and C. Tasse and I. Thomas and S. Thoudam and Toribio, {M. C.} and {Van Der Tol}, B. and O. Usov and {Van Veelen}, M. and {Van Der Veen}, {A. J.} and {Ter Veen}, S. and Verbiest, {J. P.W.} and R. Vermeulen and N. Vermaas and C. Vocks and C. Vogt and {De Vos}, M. and {Van Der Wal}, E. and {Van Weeren}, R. and H. Weggemans and P. Weltevrede and S. White and Wijnholds, {S. J.} and T. Wilhelmsson and O. Wucknitz and S. Yatawatta and P. Zarka and A. Zensus and {Van Zwieten}, J.",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201220873",

language = "אנגלית",

volume = "556",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Van Haarlem, MP, Wise, MW, Gunst, AW, Heald, G, McKean, JP, Hessels, JWT, De Bruyn, AG, Nijboer, R, Swinbank, J, Fallows, R, Brentjens, M, Nelles, A, Beck, R, Falcke, H, Fender, R, Hörandel, J, Koopmans, LVE, Mann, G, Miley, G, Röttgering, H, Stappers, BW, Wijers, RAMJ, Zaroubi, S, Van Den Akker, M, Alexov, A, Anderson, J, Anderson, K, Van Ardenne, A, Arts, M, Asgekar, A, Avruch, IM, Batejat, F, Bähren, L, Bell, ME, Bell, MR, Van Bemmel, I, Bennema, P, Bentum, MJ, Bernardi, G, Best, P, Bîrzan, L, Bonafede, A, Boonstra, AJ, Braun, R, Bregman, J, Breitling, F, Van De Brink, RH, Broderick, J, Broekema, PC, Brouw, WN, Brüggen, M, Butcher, HR, Van Cappellen, W, Ciardi, B, Coenen, T, Conway, J, Coolen, A, Corstanje, A, Damstra, S, Davies, O, Deller, AT, Dettmar, RJ, Van Diepen, G, Dijkstra, K, Donker, P, Doorduin, A, Dromer, J, Drost, M, Van Duin, A, Eislöffel, J, Van Enst, J, Ferrari, C, Frieswijk, W, Gankema, H, Garrett, MA, De Gasperin, F, Gerbers, M, De Geus, E, Grießmeier, JM, Grit, T, Gruppen, P, Hamaker, JP, Hassall, T, Hoeft, M, Holties, HA, Horneffer, A, Van Der Horst, A, Van Houwelingen, A, Huijgen, A, Iacobelli, M, Intema, H, Jackson, N, Jelic, V, De Jong, A, Juette, E, Kant, D, Karastergiou, A, Koers, A, Kollen, H, Kondratiev, VI, Kooistra, E, Koopman, Y, Koster, A, Kuniyoshi, M, Kramer, M, Kuper, G, Lambropoulos, P, Law, C, Van Leeuwen, J, Lemaitre, J, Loose, M, Maat, P, Macario, G, Markoff, S, Masters, J, McFadden, RA, McKay-Bukowski, D, Meijering, H, Meulman, H, Mevius, M, Middelberg, E, Millenaar, R, Miller-Jones, JCA, Mohan, RN, Mol, JD, Morawietz, J, Morganti, R, Mulcahy, DD, Mulder, E, Munk, H, Nieuwenhuis, L, Van Nieuwpoort, R, Noordam, JE, Norden, M, Noutsos, A, Offringa, AR, Olofsson, H, Omar, A, Orrú, E, Overeem, R, Paas, H, Pandey-Pommier, M, Pandey, VN, Pizzo, R, Polatidis, A, Rafferty, D, Rawlings, S, Reich, W, De Reijer, JP, Reitsma, J, Renting, GA, Riemers, P, Rol, E, Romein, JW, Roosjen, J, Ruiter, M, Scaife, A, Van Der Schaaf, K, Scheers, B, Schellart, P, Schoenmakers, A, Schoonderbeek, G, Serylak, M, Shulevski, A, Sluman, J, Smirnov, O, Sobey, C, Spreeuw, H, Steinmetz, M, Sterks, CGM, Stiepel, HJ, Stuurwold, K, Tagger, M, Tang, Y, Tasse, C, Thomas, I, Thoudam, S, Toribio, MC, Van Der Tol, B, Usov, O, Van Veelen, M, Van Der Veen, AJ, Ter Veen, S, Verbiest, JPW, Vermeulen, R, Vermaas, N, Vocks, C, Vogt, C, De Vos, M, Van Der Wal, E, Van Weeren, R, Weggemans, H, Weltevrede, P, White, S, Wijnholds, SJ, Wilhelmsson, T, Wucknitz, O, Yatawatta, S, Zarka, P, Zensus, A & Van Zwieten, J 2013, 'LOFAR: The low-frequency array', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 556, A2. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

TY - JOUR

T1 - LOFAR

T2 - The low-frequency array

AU - Van Haarlem, M. P.

AU - Wise, M. W.

AU - Gunst, A. W.

AU - Heald, G.

AU - McKean, J. P.

AU - Hessels, J. W.T.

AU - De Bruyn, A. G.

AU - Nijboer, R.

AU - Swinbank, J.

AU - Fallows, R.

AU - Brentjens, M.

AU - Nelles, A.

AU - Beck, R.

AU - Falcke, H.

AU - Fender, R.

AU - Hörandel, J.

AU - Koopmans, L. V.E.

AU - Mann, G.

AU - Miley, G.

AU - Röttgering, H.

AU - Stappers, B. W.

AU - Wijers, R. A.M.J.

AU - Zaroubi, S.

AU - Van Den Akker, M.

AU - Alexov, A.

AU - Anderson, J.

AU - Anderson, K.

AU - Van Ardenne, A.

AU - Arts, M.

AU - Asgekar, A.

AU - Avruch, I. M.

AU - Batejat, F.

AU - Bähren, L.

AU - Bell, M. E.

AU - Bell, M. R.

AU - Van Bemmel, I.

AU - Bennema, P.

AU - Bentum, M. J.

AU - Bernardi, G.

AU - Best, P.

AU - Bîrzan, L.

AU - Bonafede, A.

AU - Boonstra, A. J.

AU - Braun, R.

AU - Bregman, J.

AU - Breitling, F.

AU - Van De Brink, R. H.

AU - Broderick, J.

AU - Broekema, P. C.

AU - Brouw, W. N.

AU - Brüggen, M.

AU - Butcher, H. R.

AU - Van Cappellen, W.

AU - Ciardi, B.

AU - Coenen, T.

AU - Conway, J.

AU - Coolen, A.

AU - Corstanje, A.

AU - Damstra, S.

AU - Davies, O.

AU - Deller, A. T.

AU - Dettmar, R. J.

AU - Van Diepen, G.

AU - Dijkstra, K.

AU - Donker, P.

AU - Doorduin, A.

AU - Dromer, J.

AU - Drost, M.

AU - Van Duin, A.

AU - Eislöffel, J.

AU - Van Enst, J.

AU - Ferrari, C.

AU - Frieswijk, W.

AU - Gankema, H.

AU - Garrett, M. A.

AU - De Gasperin, F.

AU - Gerbers, M.

AU - De Geus, E.

AU - Grießmeier, J. M.

AU - Grit, T.

AU - Gruppen, P.

AU - Hamaker, J. P.

AU - Hassall, T.

AU - Hoeft, M.

AU - Holties, H. A.

AU - Horneffer, A.

AU - Van Der Horst, A.

AU - Van Houwelingen, A.

AU - Huijgen, A.

AU - Iacobelli, M.

AU - Intema, H.

AU - Jackson, N.

AU - Jelic, V.

AU - De Jong, A.

AU - Juette, E.

AU - Kant, D.

AU - Karastergiou, A.

AU - Koers, A.

AU - Kollen, H.

AU - Kondratiev, V. I.

AU - Kooistra, E.

AU - Koopman, Y.

AU - Koster, A.

AU - Kuniyoshi, M.

AU - Kramer, M.

AU - Kuper, G.

AU - Lambropoulos, P.

AU - Law, C.

AU - Van Leeuwen, J.

AU - Lemaitre, J.

AU - Loose, M.

AU - Maat, P.

AU - Macario, G.

AU - Markoff, S.

AU - Masters, J.

AU - McFadden, R. A.

AU - McKay-Bukowski, D.

AU - Meijering, H.

AU - Meulman, H.

AU - Mevius, M.

AU - Middelberg, E.

AU - Millenaar, R.

AU - Miller-Jones, J. C.A.

AU - Mohan, R. N.

AU - Mol, J. D.

AU - Morawietz, J.

AU - Morganti, R.

AU - Mulcahy, D. D.

AU - Mulder, E.

AU - Munk, H.

AU - Nieuwenhuis, L.

AU - Van Nieuwpoort, R.

AU - Noordam, J. E.

AU - Norden, M.

AU - Noutsos, A.

AU - Offringa, A. R.

AU - Olofsson, H.

AU - Omar, A.

AU - Orrú, E.

AU - Overeem, R.

AU - Paas, H.

AU - Pandey-Pommier, M.

AU - Pandey, V. N.

AU - Pizzo, R.

AU - Polatidis, A.

AU - Rafferty, D.

AU - Rawlings, S.

AU - Reich, W.

AU - De Reijer, J. P.

AU - Reitsma, J.

AU - Renting, G. A.

AU - Riemers, P.

AU - Rol, E.

AU - Romein, J. W.

AU - Roosjen, J.

AU - Ruiter, M.

AU - Scaife, A.

AU - Van Der Schaaf, K.

AU - Scheers, B.

AU - Schellart, P.

AU - Schoenmakers, A.

AU - Schoonderbeek, G.

AU - Serylak, M.

AU - Shulevski, A.

AU - Sluman, J.

AU - Smirnov, O.

AU - Sobey, C.

AU - Spreeuw, H.

AU - Steinmetz, M.

AU - Sterks, C. G.M.

AU - Stiepel, H. J.

AU - Stuurwold, K.

AU - Tagger, M.

AU - Tang, Y.

AU - Tasse, C.

AU - Thomas, I.

AU - Thoudam, S.

AU - Toribio, M. C.

AU - Van Der Tol, B.

AU - Usov, O.

AU - Van Veelen, M.

AU - Van Der Veen, A. J.

AU - Ter Veen, S.

AU - Verbiest, J. P.W.

AU - Vermeulen, R.

AU - Vermaas, N.

AU - Vocks, C.

AU - Vogt, C.

AU - De Vos, M.

AU - Van Der Wal, E.

AU - Van Weeren, R.

AU - Weggemans, H.

AU - Weltevrede, P.

AU - White, S.

AU - Wijnholds, S. J.

AU - Wilhelmsson, T.

AU - Wucknitz, O.

AU - Yatawatta, S.

AU - Zarka, P.

AU - Zensus, A.

AU - Van Zwieten, J.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10-240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR's new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

AB - LOFAR, the LOw-Frequency ARray, is a new-generation radio interferometer constructed in the north of the Netherlands and across europe. Utilizing a novel phased-array design, LOFAR covers the largely unexplored low-frequency range from 10-240 MHz and provides a number of unique observing capabilities. Spreading out from a core located near the village of Exloo in the northeast of the Netherlands, a total of 40 LOFAR stations are nearing completion. A further five stations have been deployed throughout Germany, and one station has been built in each of France, Sweden, and the UK. Digital beam-forming techniques make the LOFAR system agile and allow for rapid repointing of the telescope as well as the potential for multiple simultaneous observations. With its dense core array and long interferometric baselines, LOFAR achieves unparalleled sensitivity and angular resolution in the low-frequency radio regime. The LOFAR facilities are jointly operated by the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) foundation, as an observatory open to the global astronomical community. LOFAR is one of the first radio observatories to feature automated processing pipelines to deliver fully calibrated science products to its user community. LOFAR's new capabilities, techniques and modus operandi make it an important pathfinder for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We give an overview of the LOFAR instrument, its major hardware and software components, and the core science objectives that have driven its design. In addition, we present a selection of new results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

KW - Dark ages, reionization, first stars

KW - Instrumentation: Interferometers

KW - Radio continuum: General

KW - Radio lines: General

KW - Telescopes

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880744740&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220873

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AN - SCOPUS:84880744740

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 556

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - A2

ER -

LOFAR: The low-frequency array

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