White-Rabbit nodes for SKA telescope
26 July 2023
News
Safran Electronics and Defense will provide more than 200 White Rabbit (WR) devices for the Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO). These nodes provide sub-nanosecond synchronisation accuracy, which formerly required dedicated hard-aired timing systems, with the flexibility and modularity of real-time Ethernet systems. The SKAO is currently building two next-generation radio telescopes that will seek to revolutionise our understanding of the universe.
The SKA telescopes will allow astronomers to observe the universe over a broad range of frequencies, from low-frequency radio waves at 50 MHz up to mid-frequency waves of 15,4 GHz. The data generated by the SKA telescopes will be used to study a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, from the formation of the first stars and galaxies to dark matter and signatures of life beyond Earth.
Australia will host the SKA-Low telescope, which will have 131 072 antennas receiving low-frequency radio waves. Each antenna will be 2 metres tall and shaped like a Christmas tree. South Africa will host the SKA-Mid telescope, comprised of 197 dish antennas receiving mid-frequency radio waves.
“The SKA telescopes encompass an advanced Distributed Data Acquisition system, which converts different analogue environment signals into digital values to perform control and monitor tasks,” said Carlos Valenzuela, navigation and timing, product manager with Safran. “The SKA project has a strict timing requirement for its operation with a performance below two nanoseconds, which is not achievable by Network Time Protocol (NTP) or Precise Time Protocol (PTP) technology. The WR-Z platform is a critical solution developed through Safran’s Navigation & Timing portfolio for the SKA telescopes’ pulse per second distribution system. It is a new design integrating WR technology, thus enabling sub-nanosecond accuracy.”
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