POLFAR - Polish incarnation of the LOFAR. Scientific objectives and system realization

Abstract

Polish astronomers and space scientists are participating in the development and use of a radio astronomical instrument of new generation: Low Frequency ARray -LOFAR, exploring yet poorly studied range of low (<300 MHz) frequencies. It constitutes a European array of thousands of antennas -a challenge for data transfer and processing techniques. The LOFAR facilities in Poland will be distributed among three sites: Łazy (East of Kraków), Borówiec near Poznań and Bałdy near Olsztyn. All they will be connected via PIONIER dedicated links to Poznań. Each site will host one LOFAR station (96 high-band+96 low-band antennas). They will most time work as a part of European network, however, when less charged, they can operate as a national network. LOFAR will study objects in early Universe (like the high-redshift neutral hydrogen) and cosmic plasma in conditions unreachable in earth-based laboratories: densities either very high (pulsars) or extremely low, temperatures ranging from single Kelvins to milions of degrees and a wide range of magnetic field strengths. This research is important for Sun-Earth system plasma monitoring and for plasma technologies. To fulfill the conditions to participate in LOFAR Polish astronomers established the national consortium -POLFAR which also will hosting reference stations for the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

SKA-Phase 1 sensitivity to synchrotron radio emission from multi-TeV Dark Matter candidates

“…This plot also shows the effect of a DM spike on constraining the mentioned parameter space. Concluding, we have discussed the multi-wavelength , FAST [12], VLA [12], LOFAR [82], GBT [12], ALMA [83], Herschel [83], Spitzer [83], JWST [84], E-ELT [85], Hubble [83] and Chandra [86] on a large range of frequencies. Whereas GeV DM seems suitable to be detected in radio frequencies, TeV DM would be better detected at higher frequencies.…”

Prospects for Scrutiny of Pulsars with Polish Part of LOFAR

“…POLFAR -the Polish part of LOFAR (Krankowski et al 2014) is not only an opportunity to conduct independent research but most of all it will lead to a significant expansion of the possibilities of the entire LOFAR interferometer. Beginning from autumn 2015, POLFAR will be the biggest radio astronomical tool dedicated and available for astronomers and space science researchers in Poland.…”

“…To this day the LOFAR network consists of 49 stations -most of them in the Netherlands, with 6 stations in Germany and one station each in UK, France, and Sweden -which are finished and in operation, and the 3 Polish stations, which are under construction. The Polish part of LOFAR, called POLFAR, has been described by Krankowski et al (2014).…”

“…The collaboration of the proposers from Poland is organized in the Polish Consortium LOFAR (POLFAR) and was established in 2007. The agreement was signed by the representatives of the Jagiellonian University (JU), the Space Research Center of Polish Academy of Sciences (SRC PAS), the University of Warmia and Mazury (UWM), the Nicolaus Copernicus University, the University of Zielona Góra, the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomy Centre of Polish Academy of Sciences, the University of Szczecin, the Uni-versity of Environmental and Life Sciences, and the PIONIER company -Polish Optical Internet (Krankowski et al 2014).…”

Prospects for Solar and Space Weather Research with Polish Part of the LOFAR Telescope

“…Construction of the three new LOFAR stations in Poland will significantly improve the resolution and sensitivity of the whole LOFAR interferometer. The longest baseline in the LOFAR network is situated between Chilbolton (UK) and Łazy; it is around 1550 km (Krankowski et al 2014). …”