Artist's impression: Chris Fluke, Swinburne University of Technology. Click for larger version.

The SKA simulation and Radio Interferometry Group in the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing has two primary aims:

• To simulate the performance of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the next generation radio telescope, that is currently being planned and designed by an international consortium of radio astronomy institutes, in cooperation with universities, governments, and the private sector. The Group's simulations will make extensive use of the Centre's supercomputer, in collaboration with other groups in Australia and around the world, through the SKA Simulation Working Group (SSWG). A more detailed description of the Swinburne Group's SKA simulation activities can be found under the research link. Relevant publications and documents can be found under the publications link.

  The SKA simulation work undertaken in the SKA Simulation and Radio Interferometry Group is supported under the Major National Research Facilities program of the Commonwealth of Australia, through the Department of Innovation, Industry, and Regional Development in the State of Victoria, by Dell Computer Pty Ltd, and by the Swinburne University of Technology.

• To undertake scientific investigations of celestial sources of radio emission using interferometric techniques. Interferomeric instruments used in this work include the Australia Telescope Compact Array, the Australian Long Baseline Array, the Very Long Baseline Array, the Very Large Array, the European VLBI Network, the VLBI Space Observatory Programme, and other synthesis telesopes. Scientific targets include active galactic nuclei, galactic black hole candidates, starburst galaxies. The group is also interested in technique-based studies in areas such as wide-field VLBI imaging. Other information on the activities of the Group can be found under the research and publication links.

  Non-SKA research conducted in the SKA Simulation and Radio Interferometry Group is supported by the Swinburne University of Technology.