OMFG! (TRY) Check this thing out !!!

[phasma]

Arggghhhh!

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=6947

LOFAR takes the pulse of the radio sky14 Apr 2011

A powerful new telescope is allowing an international team led by University of Manchester scientists to have their “best-ever look” at pulsars – rapidly rotating neutron stars created when massive stars die.



In the first scientific results from the new European telescope LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) to appear in a journal – Astronomy & Astrophysics – the scientists present the most sensitive, low-frequency observations of pulsars ever made.

The International LOFAR Telescope is the first in a new generation of massive radio telescopes, designed to study the sky at the lowest radio frequencies accessible from the surface of the Earth with unprecedented resolution. Deep observations of pulsars is one of its key science goals.

Dr Benjamin Stappers, from the School of Physics and Astronomy who co-leads one of the LOFAR projects and is the lead author on the paper, said: "We are returning to the frequencies where pulsars were first discovered, but now with a telescope of a sophistication that could not have been imagined back in the 1960s.”

The chance detection of the first pulsar in 1967 is considered one of the great discoveries in astronomy.

Astronomers got their first glimpse of pulsars by using a radio telescope sensitive to frequencies of 81MHz (roughly the same frequency as a commercial FM radio station). 

With LOFAR, astronomers have gone back to some of the same techniques used in the first pulsar observations, but have used modern computing and optical fibre connections to increase many times over the power of their telescope.
 

This will allow LOFAR to analyse regular pulses of radio emission and probe such things as the physics of gravity and the properties of the material that pervades our Galaxy.

Dr Stappers said: “Even though these are just the first test results they are already showing spectacular promise.”

LOFAR works by connecting thousands of small antennas spread right across Europe using high speed internet and a massive supercomputer near its central core at The Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON).
The LOFAR telescope has no moving parts, instead relying on adding digital time delays to ‘point’ the telescope in a particular direction.  This approach offers a much-greater level of flexibility in the way astronomers can analyse the data. 

For instance, unlike a conventional radio telescope, it is possible to point in multiple directions simultaneously simply by having the computer crunch more data.

For astronomers who want to search for new pulsars, this means they can scan the sky much more quickly. 

Dr Jason Hessels, from ASTRON, said: “A traditional radio telescope is limited to viewing a very small fraction of the sky at any one time.  LOFAR casts a much broader net, which is going to help us discover new pulsars and detect explosions that were too rare to catch with past telescopes."

Dr Aris Karastergiou of the University of Oxford says: "Pulsars are brightest at wavelengths observed by LOFAR and show a variety of puzzling emission features. We are very excited about using the centre of LOFAR in the Netherlands, and the international stations such as Chilbolton in the UK in a new approach to understanding these exotic objects.”

The team's next step is to harness LOFAR's capabilities to address some of the long-standing mysteries about how pulsars shine and also to discover nearby pulsars that were missed by past telescopes. 

"LOFAR has the potential to find all the undiscovered pulsars in the neighbourhood of the Sun and to reveal rare explosions in our Galaxy and beyond.  We're very excited to see what's out there." says Tom Hassall, a Manchester University PhD student working on the project.

LOFAR is capable of detecting radio waves over a very large range of frequencies, all the way from 10MHz to 240MHz. As well as searching for pulsars, LOFAR will be used for making deep images, cosmology, to monitor the Sun’s activity and study planets.

LOFAR will also contribute to UK and European preparations for the planned global next generation radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – the headquarters of which will based at The University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Observatory.Notes for editors
The paper, “Observing Pulsars and fast transients with LOFAR”, by B. W. Stappers, J. W. T. Hessels, A. Alexov, K. Anderson, T. Coenen, T. Hassall, A. Karastergiou, V. Kondratiev, M. Kramer, A. G. J. van Leeuwen, J. D. Mol, A. Noutsos, J. Romein, P. Weltevrede, R. Fender, R. Wijers, et al, is available on request from the Press Office, and on the ArXiV: http://arxiv.org/abs/1104.1577

Images are available from the Press Office.

Dr Stappers is available for interview on request.

For media enquiries please contact:

Daniel Cochlin
Media Relations Officer
The University of Manchester
0161 275 8387
daniel.cochlin@manchester.ac.uk

Further information

The International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) is a Pan-European collaborative project led by ASTRON (the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy). Combining thousands of simple dipole receivers with powerful digital signal processing and high-performance computing, LOFAR can rapidly survey wide areas of the sky, looking in multiple directions simultaneously and relatively unexplored low frequencies, opening open up a new window for astronomers.

LOFAR will focus on six areas of research:
1.    The Epoch of Reionisation - understanding how the first stars and black holes made the universe hot.
2.    Extragalactic surveys - what is the history of star formation and black hole growth over cosmological time?
3.    Transients and Pulsars - probing the extreme astrophysical environments that lead to transient bright bursts in the radio sky.
4.    Cosmic rays - what is the origin of the most energetic particles in the universe?
5.    Solar and space environment - mapping the structure of the solar wind, how it relates to solar bursts, and how it interacts with the Earth.
6.    Cosmic Magnetism - what is the origin of the large-scale magnetic fields that pervade the universe?
LOFAR-UK (the UK contribution to LOFAR)

The LOFAR station at the STFC Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire was opened by Professor Jocelyn Bell-Burnell on the 20th September 2010. Like all the other stations, it is linked back to a central supercomputing facility at Groningen in the Netherlands using a high-speed network connection, the equivalent of 5000 standard domestic broadband connections combined into one.

LOFAR-UK is funded through a collaboration of UK universities with the SEPnet consortium and the UK Science and Technologies Facilities Council which includes RAL Space at STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC's UK Astronomy Technology Centre and STFC's Chilbolton Observatory.The LOFAR-UK consortium represents 22 British universities, making it the largest radio astronomy consortium in the country. Over 70 leading UK astronomers are directly involved in the project. 

The universities involved include Aberystwyth, Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hertfordshire, Leicester, Liverpool John Moores, Kent, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Open University, Oxford, Portsmouth, Queen Mary University of London, Sheffield, Southampton, Sussex, and University College London.

A pulsar is a neutron star, which is the collapsed core of a massive star that has ended its life in a supernova explosion. Weighing more than our Sun, yet only 20 kilometres across, these incredibly dense objects produce a beam of radio waves which sweeps around the sky like a lighthouse, often hundreds of times a second. Radio telescopes receive a regular train of pulses as the beam repeatedly crosses the Earth so the object is observed as a pulsating radio signal.

[iks83]

isnt it just receiving. or did i miss something?

[Kilika]

Seems like a really expensive camera for taking picures of what they call pulsars. I'm afraid I don't get the point either.

[TRY]

***lots to learn about lofar and the ones like it...

***haarp news page 6 reply 227->

LOFAR - UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTIdd13kyoA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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(opening)
 part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT_TkMPk53o&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__rD-xNhfwA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Haarp news page 7 reply 268->

Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory    

***Current Research Activities...

-Research at the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory includes the following on-going projects and international activities-

KAIRA-
The Kilpisjärvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array will be deployed in summer 2011. It is a broad-band VHF radio receiver, which can be used for atmospheric studies using transmissions from a range of radars in the vicinity as well as for radio astronomy within the LOFAR project.

SLICE-
The Sodankylä-Leicester Ionospheric Coupling Experiment (SLICE) is essentially a meteor radar deployed by the University of Leicester, UK, at Sodankylä and operated by the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory.
NICE   Negative Ion Chemistry Effects in mesospheric active heating experiments (NICE) is a project to quantify the role of the negative ion chemistry in the high-latitude mesosphere by combining optimised RF heating experiments in the ionospheric D region with detailed, coupled modelling of the ion-neutral chemistry.

CHAMOS-
Chemical Aeronomy in the Mesosphere and Ozone in the Stratosphere (CHAMOS) originated from the development of the Sodankylä ion-neutral chemistry model (SIC) at SGO, aims to study the effect of energetic particle precipitation (e.g. aurora) on the ozone budget of the mesosphere and stratosphere.

SIC-
Sodankylä Ion-neutral Chemistry model (SIC); detailed computer model of the chemistry of the ionospheric D and E regions (50-120 km) developed at SGO.
THERMES   Thermosphere and Mesosphere affecting the Stratosphere (THERMES) is a project for estimating cosequences of solar forcing on the mesosphere/lower thermosphere and their impacts on the stratosphere.

!!!Besides the on-going projects listed above, the main research areas of SGO are:

-General aeronomy and atmospheric chemistry...
-Incoherent scatter radar measurements and analysis...
-Development of radar and measurement theory...
-Applications of tomographic methods in ionospheric research...
-VLF measurements and analysis...
-Artificial effects in near_Earth space
Ionospheric heating experiments using the EISCAT Heating facility...

!SGO is part of the Center of Excellence in Inverse Problems!

http://www.sgo.fi/Research/research.php?menulang=

-

***Research History...

-History of research topics in SGO in ionospheric and magnetospheric research:

-Before end of 1950's:

Magnetic variations
Pulsations

-Late 1950's and 1960's:

Ionospheric research
Es-layers
effects of nuclear explosions
auroral D and E regions
sunspot cycle variation in ionosphere radio aurora
auroral X-rays
absorption of cosmic radio noise
auroral particle precipitation
total electron content
Micropulsations

-1970's:

X-rays
devewlopment of riometer and ionosonde techniques
solar cycle variations
seasonal and diurnal variations and anomalies of absorption
extensive Es-layer studies
auroral absorption substorm
gravity waves anf F-layer
special absorption events
geomagnetic pulsations ands absorption

-1980's:

EISCAT development, measurement, observations, analysis
theoretical: formation of Es
IPDP pulsdations
ELF radio signals
solar and magnetic cycles
Polar Cap Absorption events
high resolutiopn observations by EISCAT
participation in large international campaigns

-1990's:

Ion chemistry modeling
applications of Statistical inversion theory
satellite radio tompography, optocal tomography
PCA-events
heating experiments
morphology of lower ionosphere
small scale structure of riometer absorption (IRIS)
long term trends
PCA events
solar wind by EISCAT
VLF emissions
man made VLF
heater induced VLF
substorms and VLF
ionospheric Alfvén resonator
morphology of short period pulsations
GUISDAP development

http://www.sgo.fi/Research/research_history.php

-

***Past Research Activities...

-CAL-   
Coupling of Atmospheric Layers, a Research Training Network within the EU Framework V programme, involved institutes in seven European countries under the co-ordination of the Danish National Space Institute. The focus was the middle-atmospheric transient luminous events (TLEs), such as sprites, jets and elves. The Eurosprite campaigns still take place every year.
CUPP   Centre for Underground Physics in Pyhäsalmi; international high energy physics project; the latest development out of our long-term activities in cosmic ray physics.

-NEMI-
Night-time Emissions from the Mesosphere and Ionosphere was a Finnish-Swedish payload project for the EU-funded Hotel Payload (HotPay) 2 rocket, which was launched on January 31, 2008.

-SERCHAM-
Solar energetic radiation and chemical aeronomy of the mesosphere was a project where the SIC model was extended to include GOES X-rays, applied in Eiscat and ionosonde studies of e.g. solar flares and a solar eclipse.

-SPECIAL-
Space Processes and Electrical Changes Influencing Atmospheric Layers; a ESF Network for studying the interactions between space and weather with some emphasis on atmospheric electricity.

-GUISDAP-
Grand Unified Incohrent Scatter Design and Analysis Package; a toolbox for planning and analysing incohrent scatter radar experiments; a spin-off of out involvement in the EISCAT Scientific Association.

http://www.sgo.fi/Research/pastActivities.php

-

...Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory was established in 1913 by Finnish Academy of Science and Letters to perform geophysical measurements and research based on the observation results. Measurements of the Earth's magnetic field began on 1st January 1914. On 1st August 1997, the observatory became an independent research department of the University of Oulu...

...The Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory is located at 67° 22′ N, 26° 38′ E, which is 130 km north of Rovaniemi and 7 km south of Sodankylä, in the middle of Finnish Lapland at the banks of the river Kitinen...

...The Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory performs continuous measurements of the Earth's magnetic field, cosmic radio noise, seismic activities, and cosmic rays. The observatory operates two ionospheric radars and plays an active role in the scientific and technical research related to the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar system. An innovative measurement is the tomographic imaging of a 2-dimensional cross-section of the ionosphere from northern Norway to southern Finland. Altogether SGO runs measurements in 19 different locations from southern Finland to Svalbard...

http://www.sgo.fi/Overview/overview.php

-

...Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory has been in operation since 1914...

-Geomagnetic observations:
Geomagnetic observations have been carried out regularly since 1914.   

-Seismic observations-
Seismic observations have been carried out at Sodankylä since 28th June 1956.

-Ionospheric soundings-
At Sodankylä regular vertical ionospheric soundings are carried out since 1st August 1957.

-Cosmic ray measurements-
Neutron monitor of the Oulu Cosmic Ray Station has been in routine operation since 1964.   

-Riometer measurements-
Riometer measurements at Sodankylä began in 1970, and now SGO maintains the whole Finnish Riometer Chain.

-ELF-VLF campaigns-
ELF-VLF observations have been carried out only during special campaigns since 1989.

-Pulsation measurements-
Pulsation observations at Sodankylä began in 1971. The Finnish Pulsation Magnetometer Chain is operated by SGO since 1999.   

-All-Sky Camera-
Aurora Borealis observations with digital All-Sky Camera are done since November 2000.   

-Ionospheric Tomography-
The Ionospheric Tomography Chain has been in operation since November 2002.

-AARDDVARK-
SGO operates three narrow-band VLF receiver stations within the AARDDVARK Network.
    
-Infrasound-
SGO hosts one of the stations of the Swedish-Finnish Infrasound Network. The station was moved from Uppsala in October 2006.

-Meteor Radar-
Sodankylä-Leicester Ionospheric Coupling Experiment (SLICE) operates a SKiYMET meteor radar at SGO since 2008.
    
-Meteorological observations-
Observations were started in Tähtelä when the SGO was established in 1914. Meteorological observatory under Finnish Meteorological Institute started in 1949.

http://www.sgo.fi/Data/observations.php

-
!!!SGO ARCHIEVE!!!

http://www.sgo.fi/Publications/yearList.php

-

HAARP Systems -Radars - Radio Telescope

Arecibo: Puerto Rico;
China Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation (CRIRP) :Xinjiang (Sinkiang) Region
Chernobyl 2: Russia
Cruzeiro Santa Bárbara, Sao Luis-MA, Brasil
Czech: Trokavec
Cutlass:Finland and Iceland
EAR; West Sumatra, Republic of Indonesia
Eiscat and Eiscat 3D: Tromsø,Norway; -Sweden-Finnland
Esrad: Sweden
Haarp: Gakona, Alaska;
Hipas: Chena Hot Springs, Alaska; is shut down 2009
Irkutzk:Siberia
Jicarmaca: Peru
Jindalee Operational Radar Network:Laverton, West Australia
Jindalee Operational Radar Network:Longreach, Queensland, Australia
Kharkov
Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
Lofar: Holland
Lois: Southern Sweden.
Millstone Hill: North Chelmsford,Massachusetts,America:
Mu Radar Kyoto, Japan
National MST Radar Facility:Gadanki, near Tirupati, in southern Andra Pradesh, India
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Nerc MST Radar Facility: Aberystwyth in west Wales (UK)
Nostradamus-Project:: France, betwen Dreux and Senonche in Département Eure et Loir.
São Luiz Space Observatory, Cruzeiro Santa Bárbara, Sao Luis-MA, Brasil
Sheshan, Shanghai, China
Platteville Atmospheric Observatory
Poker Flat Research Range:Near Chatanika, Alaska
SGO: Sodankylä Ionosonde, Finland
Stare: Scandinavian Twin Auroral Radar
Sondrestrom:Greenland
SPEAR: Svalbard
SuperDarn:Super Dual Auroal Radar Network
SURA: Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia;
Tesla Generators in a Forest::Sychëvka, Moskovskaya Oblast,Russia
Unidentified Research and Development Facility-3 :Baikal-1, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan
Zhong Shan Antarctic Polar Station (China)

http://fraktali.biz/chemtrail/haarp_scandinavia.html

[Jackson Holly]

They need to drop the 'rotating lighthouse' concept ... more bogus science:

http://www.thunderbolts.info/tpod/2011/arch11/110309epulsars.htm

http://www.thunderbolts.info/tpod/00subjectx.htm#Pulsars

[TRY]

...SATURDAY, 7 MAY 2011...

...LOFAR-Sweden...

...There are lots of stations within the LOFAR network, some of which have been completed and others that are being constructed this year. And, for the 2011 build season, KAIRA (FI609) is not the only one!!

...Our colleagues in Sweden are busy building a->

 full international station at the Onsala Space Observatory (OSO)...

... As they are far to the south, the snow has already melted there and they are off to an early start...

http://kaira.sgo.fi/

[phasma]

Hmmm "expansion"

Just what we need MORE of these things!

:S

Nice find Try

[TRY]

First PMSE echo from the Kiruna VHF array

...2011-06-09...

...The EISCAT_3D demonstrator array in Kiruna have been redirected to intersect the Tromso VHF radar directed vertically at the D-region. The physical elevation angle is set to 21 degrees, but model calculations of the beam pattern show 29 degrees...

...The first experiment after redirection was carried out 9 June, and a lot of returns were immediately detected, mainly coherent, like meteors and PMSE. The data is received in two polarisations separately, and may be combined in software. The figure shows the Real-Time Graph display of one of the polarisations. PMSE echoes is clearly seen in all frequency bands, and are separated in two regions of space where the frequency resolution is high enough. The geometry of the transmitting and receiving antennas is such that the scattering angle of the echo is about 35 degrees of vertical...

http://www.eiscat.se/Members/ingemar/PMSE_kir

***please HAVE A LOOK!!!

[phasma]

Thanks Try - will have a read later- been digging up my new veggie plot all wkend  . . . so i have been awol but i`m back on it now !