The MeerKLASS On-the-Fly continuum survey: pipeline design and validation
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arXiv
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| Autori principali: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866911316557430784 |
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| author | Chatterjee, Suman Santos, Mario G. Rozgonyi, Kristof Grainge, Keith Mangla, Sarvesh Mohr, Joseph J. Paul, Sourabh Perrott, Yvette Smirnov, Oleg M. Tasse, Cyril Wolz, Laura |
| author_facet | Chatterjee, Suman Santos, Mario G. Rozgonyi, Kristof Grainge, Keith Mangla, Sarvesh Mohr, Joseph J. Paul, Sourabh Perrott, Yvette Smirnov, Oleg M. Tasse, Cyril Wolz, Laura |
| contents | The MeerKAT Large Area Synoptic Survey (MeerKLASS) is designed to map large areas of the Southern sky for cosmology using the single-dish HI intensity mapping (IM) technique, while simultaneously delivering a wide, high angular-resolution interferometric survey. We present the design and first results of the MeerKLASS On-the-Fly (OTF) continuum data, which exploits the visibilities recorded during fast, constant-elevation scans. This observing mode enables fast commensal imaging over several hundred of square degrees on a nightly basis.
We describe the OTF survey strategy and pipeline, focusing on handling challenges introduced by the current MeerKAT fixed-delay correlation observing mode, which causes decorrelation (smearing). We implement a correction scheme based on time-dependent phase rotation, direction-dependent PSF modeling, and wide-band faceted deconvolution with \texttt{DDFacet}. Using UHF-band and pilot L-band data, we demonstrate the recovery of high-quality 2-second snapshot images and deep mosaics over hundreds of square degrees. After smearing correction we are able to achieve a resolution of $23.3$arcsec and $14$ arcsec with an rms sensitivity of $35 μ{\rm Jy\,beam}^{-1}$ and $ 33 μ{\rm Jy\,beam}^{-1}$ in the UHF and L-band respectively.
The full survey will cover $10,000 \, {\rm deg}^{2}$ at 544-1088 MHz, and after the delay tracking fix implemented we expect to reach $\sim 25 μ{\rm Jy\,beam}^{-1}$ at $14$ arcsec resolution. The continuum OTF data products will support diverse science goals, including galaxy and AGN evolution, diffuse cluster emission, large-scale structure and cosmology, rotation-measure synthesis, and transient searches. MeerKLASS-OTF thus establishes an efficient path to wide-area commensal surveys with MeerKAT and provides a key technical precursor for SKA-Mid. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_11978 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | The MeerKLASS On-the-Fly continuum survey: pipeline design and validation Chatterjee, Suman Santos, Mario G. Rozgonyi, Kristof Grainge, Keith Mangla, Sarvesh Mohr, Joseph J. Paul, Sourabh Perrott, Yvette Smirnov, Oleg M. Tasse, Cyril Wolz, Laura Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics The MeerKAT Large Area Synoptic Survey (MeerKLASS) is designed to map large areas of the Southern sky for cosmology using the single-dish HI intensity mapping (IM) technique, while simultaneously delivering a wide, high angular-resolution interferometric survey. We present the design and first results of the MeerKLASS On-the-Fly (OTF) continuum data, which exploits the visibilities recorded during fast, constant-elevation scans. This observing mode enables fast commensal imaging over several hundred of square degrees on a nightly basis. We describe the OTF survey strategy and pipeline, focusing on handling challenges introduced by the current MeerKAT fixed-delay correlation observing mode, which causes decorrelation (smearing). We implement a correction scheme based on time-dependent phase rotation, direction-dependent PSF modeling, and wide-band faceted deconvolution with \texttt{DDFacet}. Using UHF-band and pilot L-band data, we demonstrate the recovery of high-quality 2-second snapshot images and deep mosaics over hundreds of square degrees. After smearing correction we are able to achieve a resolution of $23.3$arcsec and $14$ arcsec with an rms sensitivity of $35 μ{\rm Jy\,beam}^{-1}$ and $ 33 μ{\rm Jy\,beam}^{-1}$ in the UHF and L-band respectively. The full survey will cover $10,000 \, {\rm deg}^{2}$ at 544-1088 MHz, and after the delay tracking fix implemented we expect to reach $\sim 25 μ{\rm Jy\,beam}^{-1}$ at $14$ arcsec resolution. The continuum OTF data products will support diverse science goals, including galaxy and AGN evolution, diffuse cluster emission, large-scale structure and cosmology, rotation-measure synthesis, and transient searches. MeerKLASS-OTF thus establishes an efficient path to wide-area commensal surveys with MeerKAT and provides a key technical precursor for SKA-Mid. |
| title | The MeerKLASS On-the-Fly continuum survey: pipeline design and validation |
| topic | Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.11978 |