LOFAR: Recent imaging results & future prospects

George Heald; Michael R. Bell; Andreas Horneffer; André R. Offringa; Roberto Pizzo; Sebastiaan van der Tol; Reinout J. van Weeren; Joris E. van Zwieten; James M. Anderson; Rainer Beck; Ilse van Bemmel; Laura Bîrzan; Annalisa Bonafede; John Conway; Chiara Ferrari; Francesco De Gasperin; Marijke Haverkorn; Neal Jackson; Giulia Macario; John McKean; Halime Miraghaei; Emanuela Orrù; David Rafferty; Huub Röttgering; Anna Scaife; Aleksandar Shulevski; Carlos Sotomayor; Cyril Tasse; Monica Trasatti; Olaf Wucknitz

doi:10.1007/s12036-011-9125-1

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arXiv · 1106.3195

LOFAR: Recent imaging results & future prospects

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Abstract

The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) is under construction in the Netherlands and in several surrounding European countries. In this contribution, we describe the layout and design of the telescope, with a particular emphasis on the imaging characteristics of the array when used in its "standard imaging" mode. After briefly reviewing the calibration and imaging software used for LOFAR image processing, we show some recent results from the ongoing imaging commissioning efforts. We conclude by summarizing future prospects for the use of LOFAR in observing the little-explored low frequency Universe.

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George Heald, Michael R. Bell, Andreas Horneffer, André R. Offringa, Roberto Pizzo, Sebastiaan van der Tol, Reinout J. van Weeren, Joris E. van Zwieten, James M. Anderson, Rainer Beck, Ilse van Bemmel, Laura Bîrzan, Annalisa Bonafede, John Conway, Chiara Ferrari, Francesco De Gasperin, Marijke Haverkorn, Neal Jackson, Giulia Macario, John McKean, Halime Miraghaei, Emanuela Orrù, David Rafferty, Huub Röttgering, Anna Scaife, Aleksandar Shulevski, Carlos Sotomayor, Cyril Tasse, Monica Trasatti, Olaf Wucknitz. 2011-06-16. LOFAR: Recent imaging results & future prospects. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-011-9125-1

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