HIRAX Project Hits Milestone with First Reflector Dish in South Africa
Key Ideas
- The HIRAX project in South Africa has achieved a significant milestone with the production of its first reflector dish, aiming to understand dark energy by tracing hydrogen distribution in the universe.
- The project involves international collaboration between scientists, engineers, and industry partners, with funding from various organizations including the Simons Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
- The accuracy of the reflector dish was meticulously confirmed by a diverse team using advanced measurement systems, contributing to the success of the HIRAX telescope array in capturing sensitive data from the universe's radio waves.
- Plans are underway to deploy the reflector dishes for testing at the Karoo Desert site, with additional dishes being produced for a large array in South Africa and a smaller array in Botswana, expanding the project's scientific reach.
The HIRAX project in South Africa, funded by organizations like the Simons Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation, has achieved a major milestone by producing its first reflector dish. This dish is vital for measuring the universe's radio waves to study dark energy by examining the distribution of hydrogen. The project promotes international scientific collaboration, with partners from various countries and industries, including the National Research Council of Canada. The accuracy of the reflector dish was rigorously confirmed through detailed measurements led by a diverse team, ensuring its precision in capturing data. Plans are in place to deploy the reflector dishes for testing in the Karoo Desert, further advancing the project's goals. The HIRAX project not only focuses on the scientific aspect but also aims to create connections between countries in Southern Africa and worldwide, promoting mutual benefits in astronomy and technology development.
Topics
Projects
Technology Development
Research Project
Astronomy
Industry Partnership
Scientific Collaboration
Radio Astronomy
Telescope Array
Scientific Funding
Latest News