Long Wavelength Array

The Long Wavelength Array (LWA) is a radio telescope in central New Mexico. It began preliminary tests of the hardware in 2011, and began regular operations in late 2015. [1] It is one of the few observatories to utilize relatively low frequencies (10-88 MHz), and is used to study relativistic particles, cosmic evolution, astrophysical plasma, decametric radio emissions from Jupiter-like extrasolar planets, and giant flares from magnetars.[2]

Long Wavelength Array
Location(s)New Mexico
Coordinates34°04′N 107°38′W
OrganizationNational Radio Astronomy Observatory 
Wavelength3.4 m (88 MHz)-30 m (10.0 MHz)
Built2009– (2009–)
First light7 April 2011 
Telescope stylephased array
radio telescope 
Number of telescopes1 
Diameter100 yd (300 ft 0 in)
Collecting area6,500 m2 (70,000 sq ft)
Websitelwa.phys.unm.edu
Location of Long Wavelength Array

As of 2011 it consisted of a single station with 256 antennas. The longer term objective of the project is to build 53 stations in total, with a total of 13,000 dipole antennas[3] strategically placed in an area nearly 400 kilometres (250 mi) in diameter, to scan the sky at HF and VHF frequencies. Each antenna stands about 1.5 metres (5 ft) high and about 2.7 metres (9 ft) across the base.[4] The first station, located adjacent to the NRAO's VLA, consists of 256 antennas and was completed in December 2009. It was dedicated in April 2010, and routine operations began in 2011.[3] The second station (LWA2) was under construction about 19 km (12 mi) away as of 2011.[5]

The project is a collaboration of UNM, VT, LANL, JPL, NRL, UI, BIRS, NRAO and AFRL.[6]

See also

References
  1. "ScienceCasts:Listening to the Stars". NASA Science. NASA. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  2. Ellingson, Steven (2009), "The Long Wavelength Array" (PDF), Proceedings of the IEEE, 97 (8): 1421–1430, Bibcode:2009IEEEP..97.1421E, doi:10.1109/JPROC.2009.2015683, S2CID 8999112
  3. "JPL Searching for Galactic Flashes: "Exploding Black Holes or Transmissions by Other Civilizations?"". The Daily Galaxy. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  4. Vega, Priscilla (2011-01-26). "An Astronomer's Field of Dreams". JPL. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  5. "Current News". University of New Mexico. June 3, 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  6. "Welcome to the LWA!". UNM. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
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