RE: Two pulsar observations with the 12-m antenna (fwd)

From: <David.Deboer_at_email.protected>
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:02:05 +1000

Hi John,

Very cool!

Thanks for sending that around - I guess it is a real radio telescope
now!

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-parkestestbed_at_atnf.<!--nospam-->csiro.au
[mailto:owner-parkestestbed_at_atnf.<!--nospam-->csiro.au] On Behalf Of Reynolds, John
(ATNF, Parkes)
Sent: Thursday, 14 August 2008 11:32 AM
To: parkestestbed_at_atnf.<!--nospam-->csiro.au
Subject: Two pulsar observations with the 12-m antenna (fwd)

Dear All,

First pulsar observation with the 12m, from feed element #33.

Cheers,
John R

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:58:24 +1000
From: George Hobbs <george.hobbs_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au>
To: Dick Manchester <dick.manchester_at_atnf.<!--nospam-->csiro.au>,
     "Marsfield) Kesteven Michael (ATNF" <michael.kesteven_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au>,
     Simon Johnston <simon.johnston_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au>,
     David Champion <David.Champion_at_atnf.<!--nospam-->csiro.au>,
     Matthew Bailes <mbailes_at_swin.<!--nospam-->edu.au>
Cc: "Parkes)) Reynolds John ((ATNF" <john.reynolds_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au>,
     Brett Preisig <Brett.Preisig_at_csiro.<!--nospam-->au>
Subject: Two pulsar observations with the 12-m antenna

Dear all,

  John Reynolds, with help from Brett, managed to wire up the system
to allow some test pulsar observations with the 12-m ASKAP antenna
(from the control room of the 64m). We used the PDFB2 system as a
backend to record 20MHz bandwidth from a single element of the focal
plane array. Mike's software was used to drive the antenna to
observe Vela and B1641-45. The attached plots show the first result
of Vela (we clearly detect B1641-45 but with a S/N of only about 10
in a 20 minute observation). Tomorrow, I'll spend some time
determining whether the signal-to-noise detected is as expected
(which should give an independent confirmation of the sensitivity of
the system). In summary: pulsars can be observed with the ASKAP test
antenna!!!

It may be possible to add in another element at some point to
increase the S/N. I'd also like to check whether the timing is
stable by making a few more observations in the next couple of days
(although there is no reason why it shouldn't be). We also are
planning to move the observing frequency around a bit to make sure
that the system works as expected.

The files are the most recent in the /nfs/PKCCC1_1 directory.

Thanks heaps to John and Brett.

Cheers,
  George
Received on 2008-08-17 12:02:33