SQUARE KILOMETER ARRAY (SKA)
1. Context
The new year ushered in the news that India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope.
India had already been contributing to the project for the past several years, but the full member status, which offers greater scientific opportunities to use the upcoming facility, requires countries to sign and ratify an international treaty, and also make a financial commitment. India has approved Rs 1,250 crore for the project, which includes its funding contribution for the construction phase
2.Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project
- The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) will not function as a singular large telescope but as an assemblage of numerous dish antennas operating collectively.
- The term "Square Kilometer Array" was originally coined due to the objective of establishing an effective area of one square kilometre (equivalent to one million square meters) for gathering radio waves.
- This goal was envisioned by setting up numerous smaller antennas in a specific array configuration, enabling them to function as a unified radio telescope.
- Presently, it seems that the project, valued at USD 2.4 billion in 2021, will eventually possess a smaller collecting area than initially intended. Nonetheless, the original name, Square Kilometer Array, has been retained.
- The antennas, totaling approximately 200 in South Africa and over 130,000 in Australia, are being positioned in remote areas with sparse population density.
- These locations were carefully selected to maximize their distance from human activities, aiming to minimize interference from unwanted terrestrial sources.
- Construction commenced at both sites in December 2022, and the initial phase of the project is anticipated to conclude by the following year. Once operational, SKA is predicted to be between 5 to 60 times more potent than the most advanced existing radio telescopes operating within similar frequency ranges
3. Significance of SKA for India
- Even though India won't host any of the SKA facilities, the country stands to gain significantly in science and technology by being a full member of the project. Similar to instances like the LHC or ITER, both situated abroad, where India's participation reaped substantial benefits for the scientific community, the SKA presents a comparable opportunity.
- India already boasts advanced capabilities in radio astronomy, exemplified by facilities like the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune, known globally for its exceptional scientific output.
- Additionally, similar facilities exist in Ooty, Nainital, and Bengaluru. For Indian scientists engaged in this field, the SKA represents the next logical progression, promising extensive research opportunities in astronomy's pressing scientific inquiries.
- Attaining full member status offers India privileged access to SKA facilities. While most telescopes operate under an open-use policy, granting research opportunities to groups worldwide through competitive selection based on scientific merit (as seen in GMRT's functioning), the SKA is likely to prioritize member countries that contribute to its construction.
- Member nations would receive preferential time allocations on the radio telescope, roughly corresponding to their project contributions, with limited slots available through competitive bidding.
- The project also promises technological advantages, delving into cutting-edge electronics, software, materials science, and computing.
- Though the SKA Observatory owns the resulting intellectual properties, they will be accessible to all member countries, presenting significant learning prospects for scientists, academics, and even private industries.
- Participation in the project is anticipated to expand India's science and technology landscape, fostering capacity building, training opportunities, and the broadening of expertise in this domain.
- The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) in Pune spearheads India's involvement, collaborating with 22 institutions across the country, encompassing leading research centers, select IITs and IISERs, a few universities, colleges, and even a couple of private companies
4. Way forward
India has been involved in the SKA project right from its inception in the 1990s, and contributed to the design and development of the telescope as well as in negotiating the SKA Observatory Convention, the international treaty that established the facility as an intergovernmental organisation. The main contribution has come in the development, and operation, of the Telescope Manager, the ‘neural network’ or the software that will run the entire facility.
Source: Indianexpress
