eEVN: a realtime connected radio telescope as large as Europe

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e-EVN a real-time connected radio telescope as
large as Europe

• use the Grid infrastructure for
• -- transporting raw data-streams of 1-10 Gbps
  from each radio telescope to the central data
  processor
• -- quality of service not a big issue
• to provide
• new astronomical capabilities
• operational robustness and flexibility
• timescale
• first tests 2002, full-scale deployment
  post-2005

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eEVN European VLBI Network
Data processing centre 16 Gbps
(2005) 2 Tbps (2010)
Russia
China
USA
asymmetric
star topology
1-10 Gbps
South Africa
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Science impact

• real-time operation allows flexible dynamic
  scheduling to respond to targets of opportunity
  like exploding stars
• wide bandwidth that is always available
  major increase in sensitivity for radio sources
  at the edge of the universe
• wide bandwidth very high quality imaging

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Operational impact on Radio Astronomy

• more robust operation
• easier data transfer logistics
• flexible scheduling
• lower operating costs (?)
• more effective network monitoring

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Network layout for VLBI test
VLBI data processor
SARA
DWDM transport, 512 Mb/s
OC48c
GbE
OC48c
98 km
89 km
Ethernet switch
Lambda switch (or patch panel)
DwingelooNL
NL
OC48c
GÉANT or ?
OC48c
Jodrell Bank
Ethernet switch
GbE
UK
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Beyond the first tests

• links from remaining EVN telescopes to JIVE
  (e-EVN)
• link from USA via Chicago/New York
• link from Japan via TransPac/Chicago
• Dwingeloo connection can be upgraded to multiple
  ?s with multi-gigabit/s capacity

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GÉANT Access of NRENs to GÉANT
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EVN telescope
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Global connectivity
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Operational impact on GÉANT and the NRENs

• Goal of 24x7x365 operation at sustained
  operational rates of multiple Gbps per telescope
  will test GÉANT and the NRENs ability to deliver
  at the top end of their capabilities
• All telescopes observe simultaneously
• Data rate from each telescope through the
  networks must be identical
• All segments of the network must perform at the
  same level

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Operational impact on GÉANT and the NRENs

• Is a private network feasible?
• A dedicated chain of wavelengths between
  telescope and data processor looks attractive.
  
• Lambda always-on!
• Are lambda networks scalable?
  
• GÉANT is contemplating lambdas
  Our topology is probably the simplest case
  to test this.

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Joint research project on e-VLBI

• proof of concept in Europe
• network engineering
• software for correlator and stations to handle 1
  Gbps/station
• 2 ftes
• study of possibilities for a new correlator to
  handle 10-30 Gbps/station, 30 stations,
  operational in 2010. Funding M5-10, committed in
  2005-6?

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e-VLBI international working group

• established 9 April 2002 during the first
  international workshop at MIT Haystack
  Observatory
• second international workshop in Europe at Joint
  Institute for VLBI in May 2003
• charter and white paper to be written
• website supported by Internet 2