Pre-selection of the Candidate Fields for Deep Imaging of the Epoch of Reionization with SKA1-Low. (arXiv:1812.00119v2 [astro-ph.IM] UPDATED)
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Zheng_Q/0/1/0/all/0/1">Qian Zheng</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Wu_X/0/1/0/all/0/1">Xiang-Ping Wu</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Guo_Q/0/1/0/all/0/1">Quan Guo</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Johnston_Hollitt_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Melanie Johnston-Hollitt</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Shan_H/0/1/0/all/0/1">Huanyuan Shan</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Duchesne_S/0/1/0/all/0/1">Stefan W. Duchesne</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Li_W/0/1/0/all/0/1">Weitian Li</a>
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the first low-frequency instrument
with the capability to directly image the structures of the Epoch of
Reionization (EoR). Indeed, deep imaging of the EoR over 5 targeted fields of
20 square degrees each has been selected as the highest priority science
objective for SKA1. Aiming at preparing for this highly challenging
observation, we perform an extensive pre-selection of the `quietest’ and
`cleanest’ candidate fields in the southern sky to be suited for deep imaging
of the EoR using existing catalogs and observations over a broad frequency
range. The candidate fields should meet a number of strict criteria to avoid
contaminations from foreground structures and sources. The candidate fields
should also exhibit both the lowest average surface brightness and smallest
variance to ensure uniformity and high quality deep imaging over the fields.
Our selection eventually yields a sample of 7 `ideal’ fields of 20 square
degrees in the southern sky that could be targeted for deep imaging of the EoR.
Finally, these selected fields are convolved with the synthesized beam of
SKA1-low stations to ensure that the effect of sidelobes from the far field
bright sources is also weak.
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the first low-frequency instrument
with the capability to directly image the structures of the Epoch of
Reionization (EoR). Indeed, deep imaging of the EoR over 5 targeted fields of
20 square degrees each has been selected as the highest priority science
objective for SKA1. Aiming at preparing for this highly challenging
observation, we perform an extensive pre-selection of the `quietest’ and
`cleanest’ candidate fields in the southern sky to be suited for deep imaging
of the EoR using existing catalogs and observations over a broad frequency
range. The candidate fields should meet a number of strict criteria to avoid
contaminations from foreground structures and sources. The candidate fields
should also exhibit both the lowest average surface brightness and smallest
variance to ensure uniformity and high quality deep imaging over the fields.
Our selection eventually yields a sample of 7 `ideal’ fields of 20 square
degrees in the southern sky that could be targeted for deep imaging of the EoR.
Finally, these selected fields are convolved with the synthesized beam of
SKA1-low stations to ensure that the effect of sidelobes from the far field
bright sources is also weak.
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