MeerTRAP in the era of multi-messenger astrophysics

Kaustubh Rajwade; Benjamin Stappers; Christopher Williams; Ewan Barr; Mechiel Christiaan Bezuidenhout; Manisha Caleb; Laura Driessen; Fabian Jankowski; Mateusz Malenta; Vincent Morello; Sotiris Sanidas; Mayuresh Surnis

doi:10.1117/12.2559937

13 December 2020 MeerTRAP in the era of multi-messenger astrophysics

Kaustubh Rajwade, Benjamin Stappers, Christopher Williams, Ewan Barr, Mechiel Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Manisha Caleb, Laura Driessen, Fabian Jankowski, Mateusz Malenta, Vincent Morello, Sotiris Sanidas, Mayuresh Surnis

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11447, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VIII; 114470J (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2559937
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

Real-time detections of transients and rapid multi-wavelength follow-up are at the core of modern multi-messenger astrophysics. MeerTRAP is one such instrument that has been deployed on the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa to search for fast radio transients in real-time. This, coupled with the ability to rapidly localize the transient in combination with optical co-pointing by the MeerLICHT telescope gives the instrument the edge in finding and identifying the nature of the transient on short timescales. The commensal nature of the project means that MeerTRAP will keep looking for transients even if the telescope is not being used specifically for that purpose. Here, we present a brief overview of the MeerTRAP project. We describe the overall design, specifications and the software stack required to implement such an undertaking. We conclude with some science highlights that have been enabled by this venture over the last 10 months of operation.

Conference Presentation

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Kaustubh Rajwade, Benjamin Stappers, Christopher Williams, Ewan Barr, Mechiel Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Manisha Caleb, Laura Driessen, Fabian Jankowski, Mateusz Malenta, Vincent Morello, Sotiris Sanidas, and Mayuresh Surnis "MeerTRAP in the era of multi-messenger astrophysics", Proc. SPIE 11447, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VIII, 114470J (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2559937

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