Simulations in support of tied-array beamforming

This feature is the counterpart of SP-122 on imaging performance but covers system simulations in support of tied-array beamforming.

There are several demanding performance requirements on tied-array beams, particularly for pulsar timing (e.g. SCI_REQ-21: SKA1-MID shall provide 40 dB polarisation dynamic range at 7 arcsec spatial and 75 kHz spectral resolution to enable precision pulsar timing at 950 – 1760 MHz (HPSO 5) and sensitive intensity mapping at 350 – 1050 MHz (HPSO 32).)

The analysis of this and similar performance requirements involves the interaction of DSH or LFAA, SDP (which computes beam-forming coefficients on-line) and CSP (which implements them).  Calibrations need to be analysed for realistic noise levels and tropospheric/ionospheric conditions.  Many of the issues are equivalent to those encountered in imaging, but the detailed requirements and some of the data flows are different.

Highest priority is MID pulsar timing.

Depends on SP-123 (Jones matrices for beamforming), which forms part of the implementation.