Calibration and Stokes Imaging with Full Embedded Element Primary Beam Model for the Murchison Widefield Array

Understand

The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), located in Western Australia, is one of the low-frequency precursors of the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

• In addition to pursuing its own ambitious science program, it is also a testbed for wide range of future SKA activities ranging from hardware, software to data analysis.
• The key science programs for the MWA and SKA require very high dynamic ranges, which challenges calibration and imaging systems.
• Correct calibration of the instrument and accurate measurements of source flux densities and polarisations require precise characterisation of the telescope's primary beam.