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An Ultra-High Time Resolution Cosmic-Ray Detection Mode for the Murchison Widefield Array.
- Source :
- Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation; Mar2021, Vol. 10 Issue 01, pN.PAG-N.PAG, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The radio-wavelength detection of extensive air showers (EASs) initiated by cosmic-ray interactions in the Earth's atmosphere is a promising technique for investigating the origin of these particles and the physics of their interactions. The Low-frequency Array (LOFAR) and the Owens Valley Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA) have both demonstrated that the dense cores of low-frequency radio telescope arrays yield detailed information on the radiation ground pattern, which can be used to reconstruct key EAS properties and infer the primary cosmic-ray composition. Here, we demonstrate a new observation mode of the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), tailored to the observation of the sub-microsecond coherent bursts of radiation produced by EAS. We first show how an aggregate 30.72 MHz bandwidth (3 0 7 2 × 1 0 kHz frequency channels) recorded at 0.1 ms resolution with the MWA's voltage capture system (VCS) can be synthesized back to the full bandwidth Nyquist resolution of 16.3 ns. This process, which involves "inverting" two sets of polyphase filterbanks, retains 90.5% of the signal-to-noise of a cosmic-ray signal. We then demonstrate the timing and positional accuracy of this mode by resolving the location of a calibrator pulse to within 5 m. Finally, preliminary observations show that the rate of nanosecond radio-frequency interference (RFI) events is 0.1 Hz, much lower than that found at the sites of other radio telescopes that study cosmic rays. We conclude that the identification of cosmic rays at the MWA, and hence with the low-frequency component of the Square Kilometre Array, is feasible with minimal loss of efficiency due to RFI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- RADIO waves
COSMIC ray showers
BANDWIDTHS
RADIO frequency
RADIO astronomy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 22511717
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 01
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 149758185
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1142/S2251171721500033